Four-year commerce programme may lead to fewer students

The conversion of the three-year B Com (honours) course to a four-year course at the Delhi University may result in lesser applications for the course this year.

The conversion of the three-year B Com (honours) course to a four-year course at the Delhi University may result in lesser applications for the course this year.

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According to some college principals and teachers, most of the students who undertake B Com at the university do it as a back-up option and their real aim is to clear the Chartered Accountancy examinations. For students like these, spending one year extra in getting a back-up degree does not look like a worthwhile option, teachers say.

What has also given rise to this apprehension is IP University’s decision to start a B Com (honours) course from this year onwards. Delhi University, last year, had put its foot down and had asked students to choose either CA or B Com from a regular college. A number of students, however, continue to do both, without informing the college authorities.

“For a number of students, a three-year B Com honours degree being offered by other colleges will be far more attractive as they will not have to spend an extra year on it. These students’ primary objective is to clear CA examinations. The B Com degree is just a backup,” said a teacher at the commerce department.

But teachers do not seem vexed at the thought.“It is true that many students join the course just to get a degree alongside their CA certification, but we have always discouraged this attitude. There are a number of other deserving candidates, who lose seats because of such students. Currently, a number of students take the system for granted, souring the class atmosphere,” said a principal of an off-campus college.