The management of Mount Carmel College (Autonomous) on Thursday (Jan. 4) announced that all the undergraduate and postgraduate courses would henceforth be open even for boys. The college has invited applications from all eligible students for the upcoming academic year. The college opened some PG courses for boys in 2015, but this is the first time all courses have been thrown open to boys as well.
“The management decided to open admission for boys to support the institution’s plans and ensure greater diversity on campus,” said Suma Singh, Registrar of Academics at Mount Carmel College.
However, this is not the first time the educational institution will offer admission for boys. In 2015, the college sought and received permission from the Bangalore University Academic Council to admit male students.
“In 2016, the management opened a couple of postgraduate programmes for male students. As of now, we have 19 boys on campus. Now, boys can apply to all the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes,” Ms. Singh said. The college currently offers around 45 undergraduate courses and 21 postgraduate courses.
Mount Carmel College was one of the few all-girl colleges in Bengaluru for almost seven decades. In 2015, after the college received permission to admit boys, it was met with backlash. Even this time, the decision to offer admissions for boys has been criticised by several students and alumni.
“So far, we have had no judgment or drama in the college. We had a sense of security. It does not mean that other colleges are unsafe, but studying in a women’s college has advantages. Some parents sent their daughters here only because it was a women’s college, and the education of such students might get affected now,” said a student (who requested anonymity) of M.A. English Course at Mount Carmel College.
“For 75 years, every woman who studied at this college contributed to its legacy. What is the need to bring about this change,” an alumna posted on social media. Soon after the college announced its new decision on social media, it triggered a meme fest about boys celebrating the decision.
