Seats aplenty, but few takers for Yamunanagar colleges

The higher education landscape in Yamunanagar is witnessing a concerning transformation as many colleges have recorded a decline in admissions this academic year.

Ground reports from several government and government-aided private colleges in the district attribute this fall to three main reasons — a rise in popularity of job-oriented courses among students; the increasing number of youths looking to settle abroad; and a decrease in admissions of Uttar Pradesh-based students, who earlier sought admissions in colleges of the district due to the lack of access to quality education in UP.

Recent enrolment data reveals the extent of this downturn. Government College, Aharwala, in Bilaspur witnessed a fall in admissions from 300 in 2024 to just 180 in 2025.

Government College, Saraswati Nagar, also witnessed a similar trend, with admissions dropping from 75 to 55 students. Government College, Radaur, recorded a decrease from 250 to 190 students. Similarly, Government College, Pratap Nagar, witnessed a decline from 63 to 21; and Chhachhrauli Government College recorded 390 admissions this year so far, as against the 477 of the previous year. Government-aided private colleges have also observed a similar trend.

DAV College for Girls saw new admissions decline from 600 to 455; Mukand Lal National College, Yamunanagar, from 1,088 to 1,018; Guru Nanak Girls College from 1,200 to 815, Hindu Girls College, Jagadhri, from 200 to 150; and Maharaja Agrasen College, Jagadhri, from 277 to 177.

Guru Nanak Khalsa College, however, witnessed an increase, as 650 candidates have, so far, taken admissions in the college this year, as against 490 students last year.

Skill-based education preferred

The rise in popularity of job-oriented programmes such as bachelor of computer applications (BCA) and bachelor of business administration (BBA), and the consequent fall in admissions to ‘traditional’ courses such as BCom, BA, and BSc, reflect a changing mindset, influenced by evolving job market demands. Educators and administrators are increasingly alarmed by this downward trend, which many attribute to students favouring practical, skill-based education that promises faster employability and better salaries.

Courses such as BCA and BBA are emerging as top choices, thanks to their direct alignment with the booming IT and business sectors.

“Students are no longer satisfied with traditional degrees. They want programmes that lead directly to jobs,” a local college principal said. “BCA and BBA offer precisely that — skills that are relevant, marketable, and in demand.”

The post-pandemic surge in digital services and remote work has fuelled demand for tech-savvy graduates. BCA programmes — which focus on programming, software development, and data analytics — are increasingly seen as gateways to high-paying international careers, especially in markets such as the US. Similarly, BBA courses offer a strong foundation in management and entrepreneurship, making them attractive for those eyeing roles in marketing, finance, and corporate sectors.

Outdated syllabi, lack of resources

Many government-aided private colleges and government colleges struggle with outdated syllabi and insufficient facilities, making them less appealing to today’s career-conscious youth. The enrolment crisis has triggered urgent discussions among education authorities, who are now under pressure to modernise curricula, invest in infrastructure, and realign academic programmes with evolving industry needs.

Students from UP prefer colleges in own state

“A lot of students from Uttar Pradesh used to take admissions in the colleges of Yamunanagar and Jagadhri. Now, since a number of new colleges have been opened in UP, youngsters have started taking admissions in the state itself, further adding to the decline in admissions to the district’s colleges,” the principal of a college in Yamunanagar said.

Ambition takes flight, seats left empty

According to the principal, the growing trend of moving to foreign countries among youngsters of the state has also affected admission intake in colleges of the district.

Haryana Tribune