Few takers for language courses

Students run behind job oriented programmes in Delhi University

While the sought-after courses in Delhi University colleges are seeing over-admissions, there are not many takers for several honours language courses like Urdu, Persian, Sanskrit, Bengali and Hindi despite low cut-offs.

“In this time and age, Indian language courses are losing the race. Students are taking courses which can get them a job after completion of a degree, even if the job isn’t one with a five figure salary,” said a North Campus college Sanskrit teacher.

Admissions for Sanskrit are still open in 23 of 26 colleges with cut-offs as low as 40 per cent. Cut-off for Hindi across the colleges has dropped drastically and the course is still open in the third list in 29 colleges with 57 per cent as the minimum eligibility aggregate.

According to language teachers, many students don’t opt for these courses as they expect to get through other courses.

“After the cut-offs are announced and students don’t make it, then they realise that they should have opted for language courses also,” said a Zakir Hussain College Urdu teacher.

Sometimes students are not aware of the curriculum under language courses which covers a wide variety of topics that can help students in the future, the teacher added.
“The varsity should make some changes and allow students to take admissions in language courses even if they have not opted for it in the admission application,” the teacher said.

Kirori Mal College closed admission for Urdu after the first cut-off at 58 to 60 per cent, for Bengali, Miranda House dropped its cut-off from 66.25 per cent (first cut-off) to 50.5 per cent (second cut-off) to close its admissions for the course.

Zakir Hussain College (Morning), which offers Urdu and Persian courses, also dropped its cuts-offs steeply for both the courses.

For Urdu, the college slashed its cut-off from 67 per cent to 62 per cent and finally closed admission after the second cut-off list. For its Persian course, the college dropped the cut-off from 65 to 55 in the third list, and admissions are still open.

According to teachers, students who have studied in madrasas usually opt for Urdu and Persian studies. Similarly, students who have studied in gurukuls go for Sanskrit.
“These students are poor, their parents are happy that at least their ward is getting education, almost free of cost. The education structure and the professional rat race are pushing students who opt for language courses away from equal economic opportunities,” added the teacher.