Andhra Pradesh

More aspirants for engineering stream

HYDERABAD: Even as the debate on dilution of engineering education continues there is an enormous increase in the number of engineering aspirants this year creating a fear of stiff competition for the top ranks that get seats in good colleges.

Compared to 1,87, 213 candidates who applied for the test in 2007 this year 2,70,410 candidates sent their applications.

The surprisingly high figure of 93,107 additional candidates has baffled organisers.

While the students are worried that competition for the top ranks would be extremely challenging this time, colleges too have changed their tactics.

An official of a corporate college agreed that they have further strengthened the coaching given for “cream” candidates of their institutions worried over the numbers. After all, it is they who get all the mileage for the colleges.

Even a difference of two marks can make huge difference to the over all rankings.

“In this large pool there is always a chance of such developments and we are ensuring that our students don’t miss even a mark,” he said.

Even EAMCET officials are surprised with the increase in aspirants. EAMCET-2008 Convenor, E. Saibaba Reddy said that they did not expect such a massive increase.

He said even small centres like Kakinada and Karimnagar have seen an increase of over 4,000 candidates while Machilipatnam, which is a new regional centre received 2,500 applications.

He, however, felt that a majority of first year students too might have applied to get a feel of the test.

Colleges say they have not encouraged first students to apply but they might have applied on their own.

Another reason could be that candidates from neighbouring States might have applied in large numbers.

Apart from easy availability of seats the course fee in the State is lesser than other States like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Mahasrashta.

An official admitted that ever since five per cent seats were opened under the national integration quota three years ago the number of outstation candidates has been increasing.

Meanwhile, the number of aspirants for medical courses has reduced from 94,466 candidates in 2007 to 79,677 this year.

The reduction is being attributed to obvious reasons like the availability of few seats and longevity of the medical course.

A mere MBBS is not sufficient these days and career is not bright unless one obtains a P.G. degree.

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