Pursuing vocational courses makes one eligible for undergraduate degree courses

PANJIM: Here’s an opportunity for students who have successfully passed their SSC exam to secure admissions for degree courses they wish to pursue two years hence even though they have not succeeded in getting admissions in the science or commerce streams.

With nearly 3000 more students clearing the Goa Board SSC exams, parents are at their wits end trying to find admission for their wards in the face of a seat crunch across higher secondary schools. Institutions are dealing with a huge waiting list, particularly in the science stream even as the Education department recently announced increasing student intake to ease rush for admissions to Class XI.

Education officials suggest that students can take up specific courses in the vocational stream and still get admissions at the undergraduate degree level. There are 45 HSSs offering 15 different vocational courses, all of which have been granted vertical mobility by the Goa University to pursue Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Commerce. 

For example, two years vocational studies either in accounts and auditing, industrial management, marketing and salesmanship, office secretaryship and insurance, will pave way for students to seek admissions for BCom. 

Likewise, students aspiring for BSc in computer science or diploma in computer engineering can opt for computer technique courses. “This is a far better course than studying in general science stream and later taking admissions for BSc in computer science. After graduation, the students can even go for MCA or MSc,” a senior official told Herald.

The official informed that students taking up the MREEDA course will be eligible to join BSc in electronics and also pursue a diploma in industrial electronics.  

The GU has also granted vertical mobility for auto engineering technology, horticulture, agriculture, tourism and travel techniques, bakery and confectionary, commercial garment-designing and making among others. 

“These courses will benefit students to focus on the subjects they want to pursue in the future. There are diploma as well as undergraduate degree courses in all three streams (BSc, BCom and BA) for these specific subjects,” he said urging that there should not be any misconception that vocational courses are insignificant in building a career. 

In addition to these, students who fail to get admissions in Nursing can opt for health care science to later join diploma in nursing and even BSc in Home Science. “The syllabus of nursing vocational course is highly appreciated across the country. These students are eligible for admissions within the State and outside. Goan students are given priority at nursing institutions outside the State,” the official said. 

A large number of the 45 government and aided-HSSs are offering courses in commercial garments-designing and making, auto engineering technology, computer technique, electronics technology, office secretaryship and stenography, and accountancy and auditing. The government is also willing to increase seats for vocational courses provided students opt for it.