MCA dropping off students' radar

The All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has received 63 applications from institutes wishing to shut down this year. Of these, 36 teach computer application, 22 management and five engineering.

Last year, around 75 institutes had applied to shut down, the majority being management institutes.

"Many students are opting for the B Tech programme than a Masters in Computer Application (MCA) course, which requires more years of study. Students do not find the MCA programme very relevant," said Shankar S Mantha, chairman of the AICTE.

The Supreme Court recently restored the AICTE's power to regulate engineering and management institutes. The AICTE is receiving applications to open or close colleges for the academic year 2014-15.

There are two streams in computer education, one leading to the BE or B Tech degree and the other leading to the MCA degree. The MCA course is a three-year programme for graduates. An MCA degree needs six years of study after passing out of high school. Students thus favour the four-year B Tech degree.

Students joining an MCA course must have a BCA, BSc, BCom or BA degree with mathematics as one of the subjects at the 10+2 school level or at graduation.

According to sources, most institutes applying for closure this year are from Andhra Pradesh. As many as 80 colleges offering courses in engineering, management, computer application, pharmacy and education have applied to shut down in the state.

In the previous academic year, 116 engineering and management institutes shut down across the country, compared with 100 in 2012-13 and 79 in 2011-12.

In 2013-14, Andhra Pradesh had the highest number of closures at 49, followed by Uttar Pradesh at 16 and Maharashtra at 13.

In many states, institutes have sought permission to reduce engineering and management seats rather than a complete shutdown.

The AICTE said it would decide on these applications after it received clearances from state governments that were held up by the general elections. "We will process the applications only after we receive the no-objection certificates," added Mantha. To shut down, an institute needs to furnish clearances from the university it is affiliated to and the state government.