Tamil Nadu

Medicine holds little charm for students

TIRUCHI: A majority of students seeking admission to standard XI want to become engineers. The choice of medicine has taken a backseat, indications emerge from the admission process under way in schools in the district.

Irrespective of whether students had completed their tenth standard under Matriculation, Anglo-Indian, ICSE or State Board, they are drawn towards the group that has Computer Science as one of the subject components.

Students have already set their eyes on becoming software engineers, headmasters say, adding that toppers in the first group (Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology) need much goading to take up medicine.

R. Sundar, Headmaster, E.R. Higher Secondary School, cites an instance of one of his students preferring to join P.S.G. College of Technology despite securing a medical seat.

The fall in the number of students seeking admission to pure science group (Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology) has become conspicuous over the past few years. Gradually, this group is becoming non-existent in the schools. A few schools abandoned this group last year and more schools are likely to follow suit this year, enquiries reveal.

The highest demand this year is for the group that has the following subjects: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Computer Science.

Students are said to be put off by the need to wait for a rather long period to practise medical profession. The need for post-graduation for securing a high-paying job dampens their enthusiasm.

On the other hand, they are enamoured by the prospect of landing lucrative jobs immediately after four years of engineering study. Even doctors have begun to advise their wards to take up engineering, points out Mr. Sundar.

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