Mazharul Uloom College (autonomous), situated in Ambur town of Tirupattur district, Tamil Nadu, has officially shut down two of its aided undergraduate programmes – B.Sc. Mathematics and B.A. Economics. Principal‑in‑charge K.H. Kaleemullah explained that the courses have witnessed negligible or zero admissions over the past three academic years, making departmental maintenance financially untenable.

Background: Declining Student Interest

The college, affiliated with Thiruvalluvar University, Vellore, historically offered a range of aided UG courses. However, a broader shift in student preferences across the state has left traditional streams like mathematics and economics struggling to attract enrolments. Local data confirms that B.Sc. Mathematics recorded no new students for three straight years, while B.A. Economics consistently fell short of the minimum required batch size.

Financial and Operational Pressures

Running a department without students incurs fixed costs – salaries for five faculty members, laboratory upkeep, and other overheads – that drain the college’s limited budget. “When a department has no students, paying staff and maintaining resources becomes a liability,” Kaleemullah noted, emphasizing the fiscal imprudence of keeping under‑populated programmes alive.

Current Course Portfolio

Presently, the institution continues five aided UG programmes, notably B.A. Corporate Economics, BBA and B.Com. These courses meet the regulatory benchmark of at least 20 students per section, ensuring viable class sizes. By contrast, the discontinued programmes failed to meet this threshold, prompting the college to streamline its offerings.

Stakeholder Concerns and Regulatory Context

The Association of University Teachers lodged a grievance with Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, alleging that the college’s move deprives eligible and minority‑community students of access to the programmes. Kaleemullah refuted these claims, asserting that the admission committee was constituted as per Directorate of Collegiate Education (DCE) guidelines, with the principal as chairperson and department heads and vice‑principals as members.

Future Outlook

While the closure narrows the academic choices for local students, it also reflects a pragmatic response to shifting demand. The college’s focus on courses with demonstrable interest may safeguard its financial health, but it also underscores the need for policy interventions that encourage diverse programme offerings, especially for underserved communities.