Special Correspondent
Maharashtra: The exclusion of the Bachelor of Computer Application (BCA) course from the state government’s free higher education scheme for girls has left aspiring female computer professionals disadvantaged, forcing them and their families to bear the full burden of educational fees.
Last year, the state government introduced a free higher education scheme for girls in 500 courses, aiming to increase female enrollment in higher education and professional courses. The scheme, effective from the academic year 2024-25, is available to girls from families with an annual income of less than Rs 8 lakh. However, the BCA course, a popular three-year professional programme, was notably excluded from this list.
While the scheme covers a variety of degree, diploma, and postgraduate courses, including engineering, the BCA programme was left out despite its growing demand among female students. This course is increasingly popular among girls due to its relevance to their career goals. As a result, more girls are showing interest in pursuing BCA. Parents and students have urged Higher and Technical Education Chandrakant Patil to reconsider this decision and extend the benefits of the free education scheme to BCA students.
Sachin Shinde, parent representative, expressed his dissatisfaction over excluding the BCA course from the free education scheme. “The state government has included 500 traditional and vocational courses in the free higher education scheme for girls, a decision we welcome. However, lakhs of girls are unable to benefit from the scheme due to the non-inclusion of the BCA course, forcing parents to shell out hefty educational fees. This exclusion raises concerns of discrimination, and we urge the government to include this degree course in the scheme without delay,” he said.
Parents and students have already raised this issue with Minister Patil. A delegation led by Dr. Krantikumar Patil, president of the Shivaji University Principals’ Association, submitted a formal request to the minister and requested him to include the BCA programme in the scheme. Dr Patil said, “The demand for BCA courses has been growing, particularly after the pandemic, as more girls opt for this program due to its career potential. We met with Minister Patil to advocate for the inclusion of BCA in the scheme, and while we submitted a representation, no decision has been made yet. We hope the government will take a positive decision that supports the interests of girls pursuing this course.”
