Bangalore: A healthy prospect for IT engineers comparable to fewer opportunities for science graduates is forcing the youngsters in Bangalore to prefer engineering courses to science courses, reports Deccan Herald.

Science courses like BSc CBZ (Chemistry, Botany and Zoology) and BSc PCM (Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics) are not finding expected intakes in many colleges. While 40 students got admission to the BSc CBZ in 2007 in Government Science College, Bangalore, the number fell to 21 in 2008-09. The total admissions of BSc PCM are only 32, which was 55 in the last year.

Similarly, total admissions to CBZ were only six this year in Nijalingappa First Grade College, and there were no takers at all for MECs (Mathematics, Electronics and Computer Science).

More over, there are instances of admitted students discontinuing the science course if they get engineering admission. "Those who do not get seats for engineering in the CET first round of counseling, join BSc. This is just to be on a safer side and they may give up their seats once the second round of counseling is over. The students don't attend classes till the second round of counseling is over. If they get a seat in the second round they will leave the college. We will end up teaching only a handful of students," said Dr Anantharaj, Professor of Chemistry, Government Science College.

Ananth C, Professor of Chemistry, MES College, opined "Most of the students find jobs in call centers rather than any industry. The present generation is under the impression that engineering in any branch is far better than a BSc course. Students who take up traditional courses such as BSc have very less options when it comes to pursuing their higher studies." He added that post-graduate departments in universities have limited number of seats and private colleges offer MSc with a very high fee. "Most cannot afford to pay the high fee, hence Universities should increase the number of seats," he said.

He also pointed out that industries look for qualified students with practical experience whereas in the present system, there's not much emphasis on practical application in BSc syllabus. Naturally, they don't employ BSc graduates.