Christian students excel in engineering: study

November 13, 2012: Christian students have fared better than those from other communities in engineering studies. This was revealed in a religion-wise analysis of pass percentage of engineering college students done by the Centre for Development Studies (CDS).

The sample survey was conducted on the pass percentage of students in two sought-after branches - Electronics and Communication and Electrical and Electronics - in five engineering colleges affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi University in 2010.

The pass percentage of students from Christian community was 72 per cent, from Hindu community 61 per cent, Muslim community 55 per cent and SC/ST 42.2 per cent.

Social demographers and educational experts say social and family environment play an important role in nurturing a student's aptitudes in pursuing higher education and professional courses.

"The Christian community is more closely knit when compared to others; traditionally they give more importance to modern education besides setting up missionary schools and colleges in the state,” said B S Maoji, commissioner of entrance examination.

He said that the church also plays a positive role by urging parents to take up education of their kids seriously.

Cyriac Thomas, member of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions of India, says Christian institutions have a tradition of inculcating quality education.

“Many students from the community come from these Christian managment schools. They get a good grounding here. Also, Christian families from the central Travancore belt , especially from poor background, give priority to educate their kids as they know that it can only lift themselves out of poverty," he said.

K. Pushpangadan of CDS, who undertook the study, said the government increased the number of engineering colleges citing a dearth of engineers in the market but they do not bother to monitor the teaching and infrastructure facilities in self-financing engineering colleges.

He said the government should identify students dropping out of courses and assist them in learning technical skills suited to the needs of market.