Mumbai: Students, who will score well in their Senior Secondary Certificate (SSC) exams, result expected on June 25, can even opt for the highly competitive vocational courses offered by some reputed colleges.

These courses give students an additional advantage as they do not have to strive with two languages mandatory for students in regular courses.

In fact, majority of the state toppers in Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams are students from vocational courses.

"Vocational courses are a ready option for those students who score high percentage in SSC exams. Most top scorers that come to our college opt for electronics and computer science. Vocational subjects help score more marks, as students have just one language. However, those interested in biology cannot take up these courses," said Suhas Pednekar, Principal of Ruia College, Matunga.

Students unable to score good percentage don't have to lose hope as long as one they are prepared to give up the idea of opting for medicine or engineering after HSC.

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) had introduced MCVC in 1989 for average scoring students interested in acquiring vocational skills.

The courses available at various colleges, allow students to study a multitude of vocational, job-ready subjects with the option of later taking up regular bachelor's courses even BMS and BMM.

According to Dr Pradeep Kulkarni, Principal of DG Ruparel College, Matunga "MCVC is good for average scorers who are not interested in pursuing engineering and medical streams as the courses do not have subjects like maths and biology".

Vidyadhar Godbole, Professor, DG Ruparel College, and the senior most teacher in vocational education, said, "The government has changed the classification from MCVC to HSC vocational courses this year and is also planning to change the structure of these courses. The curriculum is formulated by the state board and MCVC students are at par with other HSC students".