By hitting a little different, The century-old St Agnes College — the first women’s college on the west coast of India as well as the first Catholic women’s college in the country — has officially announced that it will welcome boys from the next academic year (2022-23).
According to college management, in the first year, the intake will be about 20 to 30% in each stream. The number will be increased as per demand. Right now, the college has 4,000 available seats. The autonomous college has recently received approval from the government to become co-ed.
Sharing details to media persons, principal Sister M Venissa said that a century ago, the college started to educate women in the region. After its centenary celebrations, there was a plan to start co-education. “The college wished to extend its legacy of a century to male students at the undergraduate level. Finally, we are able to make it and admissions will commence from next academic year,” said Sr Venissa.
Venissa said admission for male students will start with the first-year UG programme. The college offers arts, commerce, BBA, BCA and BSc courses, she said.
On being asked what if the percentage of male admission increases and decreases female numbers in the coming years, Venissa said the institution will strike a balance with the number and maintain equality.
Sr M Lydia, joint secretary of St Agnes Institutions, while responding to a query on how parents of current students have reacted to college turning co-ed, said that a PTA meeting was conducted to gather opinion.
“We have received a positive response and parents are happy about it,” she said.
Of the 4,000 available UG seats currently, about 2,700 seats are filled. The institution first turned co-ed in postgraduate courses that commenced in 2008.
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