The lack of interest of students for the Integrated Mathematics course in the College of Engineering and Technology (CET) affiliated to the Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) has come to the fore with only a few students taking up the course.
According to sources, the enrolment into the newly-introduced course is likely to be marginal this year too.
The course, which was introduced in the CET in the pattern of the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) in 2014, had only 28 students in the first year.
The number came down to only five in 2015, the sources said, adding that in the current academic session only three students have opted for the rather expensive courses so far. Most of the seats are likely to be vacant this year if the authorities do not sort out issues such as delay in semester examination and prohibitive course fee.
The results of the third and fourth semester examination of the 2014 session are yet to be declared though the examinations were held nine months ago. Many students allege that the results of third and fourth semester examinations of all the courses are out, but they are waiting to get their results. Even the college authorities are not sure about the publication of results, they said.
Meanwhile, the students are getting ready to appear at their fifth semester examination. Notably, there is a dispute over appointment of HOD in the Mathematics department in the college. Opposing the appointment of an English lecturer as the HOD of Mathematics, the students had drawn attention of the authorities many a time. But their plea has gone unheeded so far, the students said.
“This might have been another reason behind the delay in semester results,” some students alleged.