One of the common questions amongst the parents today is “Whether to choose Integrated Courses or Non-Integrated Courses for their kids for PU College”. Parents often seek guidance in terms of commitment, study stress, and student’s learning capacity for these kinds of courses.
In Karnataka, the terminology like 1st PU, 2nd PU and Integrated Courses are well-known amongst teachers, students and parents. 1st PU & 2nd PU is equivalent to 11th & 12th Standard just like CBSE Board.
Let’s first understand both the terminologies.
- Integrated Course: It includes the coaching classes for Competitive exams at National and State levels for Medical, Engineering and Chartered Accountants. Many PU Colleges in Bangalore, Karnataka offer NEET, IIT-JEE & CA Foundational Courses along with 1st PU and 2nd PU. This helps students to prepare for board exams as well as Competitive exams. Although parents look for exclusive coaching classes from Top most institutes, at the same time parents also need to understand that their child first needs to be eligible for these exams. To be eligible for these competitive exams, students are expected to secure passing marks in their boards exams.
- Non-Integrated Courses: It is basically 1st PUC and 2nd PUC education as per Pre-University Board, Karnataka. The curriculum in this course will be relevant to pass the 2nd PUC Board Exams ONLY. Although it covers all NCERT Books for Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Economics, Accounts,Business Studies, Statistics,Computer Science, Kannada, Hindi & English. Students are prepared for the board exams through Preparatory exams. No special attention is given towards competitive exam preparations.
PROs & CONs of Integrated & Non-Integrated Courses
Both types of courses have their own benefits and disadvantages as well. If you see it from the student’s perspective,an overwhelming, stressed, competitive environment is always a daunting process of study. As per the interaction with parents,there are few pros and cons of both the courses.
- Integrated Courses saves time for the students from putting extra efforts for competitive exams.
- Integrated Courses need time management, better school-coaching class balance.
- Students are often overwhelmed by Lab & Language Classes, Extra-Curricular activities, Board Exam preparation and Competitive Exam preparations.
- Non-Integrated Courses will not give you the confidence to excel in competitive exams, as it only focuses on board exams. But the story can be changed, if the student is committed and gives proper attention to the competitive exam question patterns.
About the Writer:
SWATI SUMAN
M.S, IIT Kharagpur
B.Tech (Mechanical)
A Researcher turned into an Entrepreneur, Revamping trends of Higher Education, Industry 4.0, Rapid Prototyping consultant. An EdTech startup hustler, Additive Manufacturing, Soft Skills Trainer.Design thinking facilitator, STEAM trainer. Expertise in building training/teaching curriculum for industry-specific needs in Additive manufacturing. CSR Strategy consultant for NGO Prayas Foundation, Pune. – M.S by Research in Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, IIT Kharagpur -6 Years of Research Experience in Mechanical Testing and Materials Characterization at IIT Kharagpur and CSIR-NML, Jamshedpur. -Indian Ambassador for Women in the 3D printing international community. – State President at 3D Printing Council- WICCI