Humanities, vocational courses come out laggards

CHANDIGARH: With the counselling-cum-admission session for senior secondary schools entering its third day, courses in humanities and vocational studies have proved to be laggards, with as many as 46 and 44 seats being filled in the courses respectively so far while there are 4,875 and 1,972 seats on offer.
With science and commerce courses having a large number of aspirants, 2,005 out of 3,213 seats in science and 520 out of 1,560 having been filled in commerce, it looks like humanities and vocational courses have few takers.
In government schools, students who have scored less marks and are unable to make it to courses in science or commerce stream, finally settle for humanities. Though less number of seats have been filled in the stream so far, it will all catch pace soon once admissions are closed in the science stream at all the schools, said Suneel Bedi, subject expert at education department.
Talking about this trend, principal of a government school, said, ���People are still living by the old conception that there are few outlets for humanities as compared to science and commerce, which is incorrect. There are more promising careers in humanities now as compared to other streams.���
Karan Singh, who hails from Pathankot and has taken admission in science non-medical, feels science is more promising and in vogue as compared to any other streams. ���I have opted for non-medical because I love playing with numbers and I want to pursue engineering. Science has a better prospect than humanities any day as it offers a plethora of opportunities,��� he said.
Mother of Supriya Singh, who has opted for science, said, ���We want our daughter to study science at least till twelfth so that she has more options available for further studies.��� Manveen Kaur, who wants to compete for IAS and has opted for commerce, said, ���I don���t find art very happening. I have secured marks good enough to go for a subject that is considered better,��� she said.
Taneet Kaur, who has opted for non-medical, suggested that only those who have not scored too well in matriculation need to go for humanities. When it comes to higher studies, they should go for subjects they are good at and which interest them rather than blindly going for science or commerce,��� she said.
���There is good scope in all subjects. What���s important is to be the best at whatever one opts for,��� she added.