Demand to continue BCom general course in colleges

Visakhapatnam: The discontinuation of the Bachelor of Commerce (general) course in numerous govt colleges across the state has sparked significant concern among prospective students.
It was learnt that the course is now available in only about 50 govt colleges. Prospective students and student unions are urging the state govt to ensure the continuation of the programme in all govt institutions.In contrast, the BCom (computers) course has become the cornerstone of commerce education in Andhra Pradesh in the last one to two decades, with the majority of colleges adopting this curriculum.

In 2023, the state govt introduced single-subject major degree programmes alongside a four-year honours programme. This initiative allows students to choose a minor discipline in addition to their major.
For instance, a student majoring in mathematics can select physics as a minor. Several subjects and curricula have been completely revamped to align with industry needs and standards under this initiative. Experts highlight that the BCom (computers) course equips students with essential commerce and financial skills and business laws and management, while incorporating evolving technology in the accounting domain.
They argue that this modernised course is crucial given the shift of taxation, accounting, and financial processes to computer-based and online platforms. The BCom (computers) honours also has papers like digital marketing, investment management, etc. However, the removal of the BCom (general) course has not been well received by some students and parents.
AISF state vice president Bandela Nasarjee expressed concern, noting that thousands of students, particularly from rural backgrounds, opt for the BCom (general) course each year. “Opting for the BCom (computers) course would be challenging for students without an IT background. Interestingly, while most government colleges have discontinued the course, it remains available in many private colleges. We urge the government to intervene and revive the course in government institutions. Many poor and middle-class students across the state are keen to study the BCom (general) course in government degree colleges. This would otherwise put the students at a disadvantage. Many government degree colleges in Andhra Pradesh are already closing due to a lack of students,” said Nasarjee.
When TOI contacted the coordinators of degree admissions in various districts confirmed that the BCom (general) course is still offered in several govt colleges. Some said that the availability of BCom (computers) is advantageous, aligning with the needs of the corporate world and helping students transition into corporate careers.