Worried over Course Recognition, Cuddalore GMC Students Hold Protest

Cuddalore: Worried about their future over pending recognition for their course, around 17 students pursuing a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy degree at Cuddalore Government Medical College and Hospital held a protest recently

Even though the students have hardly two months left to complete their course, they still face issues with course recognition. Staging a protest on the college premises on Wednesday, the students demanded official recognition for their course. They also held placards and raised slogans in front of the medical college hospital.

Cuddalore Government Medical College was previously named Raja Muthiah Medical College and Hospital, which was affiliated with Annamalai University. However, the college was later taken over by the Tamil Nadu Government and was renamed. Currently, the college functions under its new name.

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As per the latest media report by Edex Live, back in 2020, when the college was under the administration of Annamalai University, 17 students were admitted to the Bachelor Occupational Therapy degree programme and their course is set to conclude in May 2025.

Previously also, these students had raised concerns with the administration regarding the lack of official recognition for their course and the administration had assured the students regarding the efforts being made to ensure approval for the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy degree course.

However, even with two months left for their course completion, the students are still awaiting recognition for their course. After the students held a protest on the college premises on Wednesday, Medical College Superintendent N Junior Sundresh arrived at the scene and held discussions with the students regarding the issue.

He assured the students to take up the issue with the Registrar of Annamalai University. Following this assurance, the students dispersed. Commenting on the matter, the students said, "Our four-year degree programme requires approval from the Academic Council of Occupational Therapy in India (ACOT). Without this recognition, we are unable to secure employment in other hospitals or pursue higher education. We are facing severe difficulties due to this."

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