After 75 years of being a women’s college, Mount Carmel College (MCC) is all set to switch to co-ed
(Representative Image)
The move announced comes as a precursor as the Mount Carmel College is in the process of attaining the ‘deemed-to-be-university’ status next year
Mount Carmel College is one of the most iconic women’s colleges in Bengaluru. It has been widely preferred by girls, owing to parents considering the institution’s safety due to its all-girls atmosphere. However, after 75 years of being a women’s college, Mount Carmel College (MCC) is all set to switch to co-ed education by opening up admissions for men in the academic year 2024–25.
Registrar of Academics at Mount Carmel College, Suma Singh announced the decision on January 4. She said, “The management decided to open admission for boys to support the institution’s plans and ensure greater diversity on campus,” reported The Indian Express.
The move comes as a precursor as the college is in the process of attaining the ‘deemed-to-be-university’ status next year. While education is important, parents are concerned about the co-ed education system.
A second-year student said that Mount Carmel College ensured safety with a predominantly female staff which alleviated parents’ concerns. This comes after the decision made by the college to accept applications for all undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) courses. While the faculty sees it as a positive step, a large number of minority students are displeased with the management’s decision to make the institution co-ed as part of the pursuit of university status, reported The New Indian Express.
One of the students expressed dissatisfaction, citing the dearth of safe spaces for non-binary and queer individuals. The latest developments have left the students disheartened. They appear to jeopardise the supportive environment that the students have discovered within the college premises.
Some students stated that if transitioning to a university was the goal, preserving its legacy as the first women’s university in Bangalore may have been taken into consideration. The switch to a co-ed institution is something that is most looked forward to, according to one of the assistant professors. The initiative will encourage inclusivity and broaden educational possibilities in order to create a more diverse learning environment.
Mount Carmel College has invited applications for undergraduate and postgraduate courses for the upcoming academic year. The college introduced select PG courses for boys in 2015 after gaining authorization from the Bangalore University Academic Council to admit male students. The autonomous institution currently has 13 boys enrolled in postgraduate courses. The university offers around 45 UG courses and 21 PG courses. Eligible candidates can now apply for admission at MCC’s official website, mccblr.edu.in.
