Enrolments for course for tribal youths decline

NASHIK: The number of tribal students from Chintamanwadi enrolling for the preparatory course of the Yeshwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU) has declined sharply over last year.
Chintamanwadi, a cluster of 12 hamlets near Kasara, was adopted by the YCMOU in a bid to educate and train the tribal youth as part of its policy to reach all strata of the society. The varsity has designed a preparatory course for school dropouts which enables the students to enrol for degree courses after passing it.Last year, 110 tribal youth of Chintamaniwadi had enrolled for the course But only 64 students have enrolled this year.
Besides the preparatory course, the project includes computer education and agricultural training.
An official of the university said that the coordination this year was not proper. "In one year, there have been three changes in the department that is looking after this project," he said. After those coordinators have retired, the new persons in charge of the project did not find ample time to create awareness or coordinate. We hope to do better next year," he said.
"We conduct classes every Sunday. Three faculty members of the YCMOU and two secondary school teachers there conduct the classes," said N R Shinde, co-ordinator of the project. "For preparatory exams we have 64 students this year and 23 for FYBA", he added.
"We have given computers to the students and also conduct lectures through mobile vans. Books are also provided by the university," Shinde said.
The four-month preparatory course commences from January and those who complete 18 years in June are eligible for the course. After the preparatory course the student can take admission in BA and BCom. These degree courses are being imparted in YCMOU's study centre at Igatpuri.
Shinde said that the students who had completed their preparatory class last year have been shifted to Trimbakeshwar and Igatpuri as these places have colleges.