Mangaluru: As many as 18 government PU colleges in Dakshina Kannada have seen less than ten admissions for science this year. This has sparked a rumour that the government would close these colleges or merge the course with nearby colleges, putting students in a state of confusion.

However, senior officials of pre-university education department maintain that no merger or closure of colleges will happen this year as classes have already begun. The government may take a decision next year, they add. “The department of pre-university education had asked the details of the colleges having less admissions. We have given those details. After that there is no further communication. Students are disturbed because of rumours of closure or merger,” said principal of a PU college in Bantwal, adding it is better any such action is taken next academic year.

Asked reason for poor response to science admissions, a professor said most of the students go to private colleges as they will have better facilities. Parents too have apprehensions about the quality of teaching in government colleges. This year, even some colleges have seen drastic decline in admissions to arts courses.

In Dakshina Kannada, there are about 205 PU colleges including 53 are government colleges. The issue of poor admissions is not there in the private colleges. Till 2010, the district had only handful of PU colleges offering science course. But, the scenario changed after the government allowed all PU colleges to start science course. However, no facilities and staff were provided to them. Each college requires four teachers to teach four subjects.