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| Saturday, Sep 13, 2008
Ponmudy lists achievements made in higher education
Chennai: The State government has made several accomplishments
in higher education and it will continue to do more,
Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy asserted on Friday.
Giving an account of the government’s achievements in higher education,
the Minister told reporters at the Secretariat that the government,
during 2007-2008, set apart an outlay of Rs. 27.1 crore for building 542 classrooms.
This year, the allocation was Rs. 39 crore to construct 520 classrooms.
A sum of Rs. 6.6 crore was provided last year to set up laboratories in 42 arts and science colleges.
Language laboratories were being formed in 63 arts colleges.
The number of girl students admitted to arts colleges had
gone up to 68,000 from the earlier 58,000. Upon introduction
of shift system in colleges, 15,000 students had been admitted.
As regards the increased intake in engineering colleges,
he said three years ago, about 32,830 students were admitted
through counselling. This figure had gone up to over 78,000.
The Minister pointed out that the abolition of the common entrance
test system [which came into effect last year] was among the reasons for the increase.
Similarly, the number of students of Tamil medium who joined the colleges was
around 11,800 two years ago and 34,400 now. About 24,600 rural students were admitted
to the colleges in 2006 when the entrance test was conducted. This year,
the number rose to about 50,000, he said.
On the admission of students of minorities to the engineering colleges,
he said the numbers of Muslim students admitted were 610 in 2005
and 2,565 in 2008. The figures for Christian students were 861 and
2,757 respectively. In terms of share too, greater number of Muslim
and Christian students had been admitted. Three years ago, the figures
of percentage of students of the two communities were 1.89 and 2.67 respectively.
The figures for the current year were 3.28 per cent and 3.52 per cent.
As for the number of students admitted to self-financing engineering colleges,
he said of 90,168 students admitted, 78,847 hailed from the State and the
remaining 11,321 students were from other States. He referred to the move for
establishing three Central universities in the State and said this became possible
due to the personal efforts of Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.
Dr. Ponmudy said the government had allocated Rs. 16 crore and 112.68 acres of land
for the Thiruvalluvar University. Besides, 125 acres in Kelambakkam and Rs. 10 crore were allotted
to the Physical Education and Sports University and Rs. 12.5 crore to the State Open University.
Courtesy: The Hindu
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