Record pass percentage in SSLC creates a shortage of seats in PUC

The record pass percentage achieved in the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examinations in Karnataka may have cheered the students and their parents. But, the inadequate number seats in Pre University Course (PUC) colleges across State has become a source of concern for the education department authorities in the State.

With the overall pass percentage in the examination shooting up to 76.32 per cent this year against the 68.46 per cent last year, a total of 591,513 students have become eligible to join PUC colleges. But, the 3,010 PUC colleges in the State, with a combined intake of just 490,000 students, do not appear to be equipped to accommodate the fresh influx of students.

Though Pre University Department officials claim that all students, who passed the SSLC examinations, may not choose PUC and opt for other courses like diploma, the 150 diploma institutes across the State are estimated to accommodate a maximum of 30,000 students, which will still leave more than 70,000 in the lurch.

To add to the pressure on the PUC colleges, the supplementary examination for the students, who failed to clear the SSLC examinations, is scheduled to be held on May 28. The students, who clear the supplementary examinations, will become eligible to join the PUC colleges from coming academic year itself.

However, the only silver lining is Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Basavaraj Horatti’s assurance to start 200 new junior colleges and grant permission to 236 private colleges from the coming academic year.