Demand for 'Commerce' subject on the rise in the State.

Ravenshaw takes more students in the stream

Students eager to cash in on employability

The Hindu,BHUBANESWAR: Gone are the days when students joined the commerce stream only after seats in the science and arts subjects were filled in different colleges. With the admission season peaking, the demand for commerce is increasing. This is prompting college authorities to seek increase in seat strength in the subject. BJB Junior College, a leading college of the State, has been sending representations seeking increase in number of seats from the existing 128 in the higher secondary level.
“We are even prepared to downsize the strength of arts stream to strengthen the Commerce Department,” said P.C Rath, principal of BJB Junior College. While the college had 512 seats in the arts and 544 in the science streams, there are only 128 seats for commerce in the Plus Two level.
Ravenshaw Junior College, Cuttack, has already taken an initiative to accommodate more students in the commerce stream. Bhubaneswar-based Rama Devi Autonomous College doubled its commerce strength last year.The Higher Education Department seems to have not woken up to the situation. When employability of students in commerce subject is growing astronomically, the department is dragging the process of sanctioning more seats in commerce wing.
On an average, 1,25,000 students appear for Plus Two Arts examination conducted by the Council for Higher Secondary Education (CHSE) all over the State every year. Some 55,000 students appear for the science examination. Compared to these two subjects, only 15,000 students sit for commerce examination.
Mr. Rath said students as well as parents were more than eager to take advantage. Another trend suggests that demand for commerce in the graduation level was also fast catching up. In Rama Devi College, out of 127 students who appeared for Plus Two Commerce examination this year, 125 students passed while 87 secured first division. “Students are aware of the prospects and its employability. They can opt for CA, CS, etc.,” said Sanjay Satpathy, reader in Commerce in Rama Devi College.