JOIN USLateral entry option for MCA course stumps colleges
The process of admission to MCA programme in the State is set to begin shortly, but ambiguity about enrolling BCA and BSc (Information Science or Computer Science) graduates through lateral entry to the course has confused the colleges.
The confusion started last year when the AICTE (All Indian Council for Technical Education) issued a directive giving BCA and BSc (Information Science or Computer Science) graduates an option to enrol in second-year MCA instead of going for all the three years.
On top of that, the government increased the intake through lateral entry in second year to 20 per cent of the total intake in the first year.
Dr R Krishna, director, PG studies, Cambridge Institute of Technology, said that while the directive was issued last year, it was not clear whether it should be followed this year as well.
Pointing out other ambiguities, he said: “By the time students come through lateral entry around August or September, they would have missed two-and-a-half months of classes and two internal exams.
Since the intake in the second year has been increased by 20 per cent through lateral entry, should the faculty be increased too? The AICTE directive says a class of 60 students should have a faculty strength of 12. Such issues have to be clarified.”
While the majority of colleges have continued with the three-year course, very few have taken advantage of this new option and admitted students under the two-year MCA last year. Dr K A Sumithra Devi, director, MCA department, RV College of Engineering, said: “I oppose this provision of lateral entry and my institute has been following the three-year course.
Most institutions have taken the same stand. Only a few others are admitting students through lateral entry and causing confusion,” she said.
At a meeting of private colleges called by the Karnataka Private Post Graduate Colleges’ Association (KPPGCA) on Tuesday, the matter was discussed in some detail. Dr M Prakash, secretary, KPPGCA, said the government was expected to provide more clarity on the matter in the three next few days.