837 class XI arts stream seats left vacant

CHANDIGARH: As many as 837 humanities seats found no claimants as counselling for class-XI admissions in city���s government schools concluded on Tuesday. The counselling process was being conducted in Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 10. There are 4,875 arts stream seats in the said schools. UT education department had earlier anticipated that arts admissions would catch up after the seats in other streams were exhausted.
Most candidates, who had compartments in class-X examinations, showed a preference for vocational courses, said sources.
A student said, ���I prefer vocational courses as they are career oriented. One can begin working straight after them, instead of needing to go in for higher studies.���
A government school principal said humanities are not considered to be in vogue these days. ���Also, as many schools have been upgraded, the upcoming ones are not able to get a good response from students, and seats are left vacant there.���
A teacher stated that vocational courses provided the students with an edge when it came to careers.
He added that rural schools got a cold response from students, who preferred to take admission in any stream available in better established schools. ���This is the reason why so many seats are left vacant,��� he said.
Rajveer Singh, father of a student, said, ���My daughter has taken admission in fashion designing course, so that she gets a good understanding of the subject and has a better chance of getting into a reputed fashion institute when it comes to higher studies.���