Employment Concerns leave 23 percent Dental vacancies in Punjab

Faridkot: Few government jobs and high private dental college fee have resulted in 23 % seats in Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) remaining vacant across private dental colleges in Punjab. 275 seats of a total of 1,140 still lie vacant and only two government colleges have managed to fill their seats. The reason for seats remaining vacant can be attributed to growing unemployment among dentists, some media reports point out. Even academic positions happen to be going vacant.

A BDS pass-out, said, "I passed with a BDS degree from a private college. I spent around Rs 14 lakh in all, including on tuition and hostel fee, but I remain unemployed. The government must recruit dental doctors."

Another MDS student added, "I have spent around Rs 30 lakh on PG in the private college but there is no secure job in the field while the government has to create job opportunities in public and encourage the private sector."

While private colleges, charge an almost double fee in comparison to government institutions for dental courses, management quota seats come for thrice the amount.

A dental student added that the Dental Council of India should be raised to become at par with the Medical Council of India (MCI) to ensure that colleges are regulated well. He stressed upon holding of regular inspections in order to prevent fraud on the part of the authorities who many a time make cosmetic changes to hoodwink the system.

"Private colleges also need to ensure that they provide adequate practical exposure to students," the student claimed to the HT.