Merge three-year BSc course and two-year MSc course into a single four-year graduation course on lines of a B.E. or a B.Tech course to re-kindle interest in science education among students. After taking the course, the students should be eligible to directly go for PhD in science.

This was one of the suggestions that emerged on the first day of the two-day National Conference on ‘Declining Interest in Science Education and Research Among Students’ here recently.

The suggestion for a four-year BSc course, in fact, has been put before the University Grants Commission, which is considering it.

Former President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, who was the chief guest, suggested that the Government have openings for at least 400 MSc and 200 Phd students in its science and research-related institutions every year. “Firstly, the fear among students that science is a difficult subject should be driven away by teachers. Science (studies) can make students unique,” he said.

Ch Mohan Rao, Director of Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology and President of the Andhra Pradesh Academy of Sciences, said students should be made aware of the employment opportunities in the science stream.

>amitmitra@thehindu.co.in

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