Principals get government to review online system

Updated on: Thursday, September 08, 2011

College principals finally went official with their complaint about doing away with online admissions. Representatives of the principals’ association met school education minister Rajendra Darda, urging him to scrap the online process for junior college admissions from next year.

After the meeting, the state government has decided to set up a committee of experts to review the process and to make it more efficient. “Experts from educational institutes, the journalist fraternity, parents and officials from the education department will be part of the committee. It will be formed within eight days and then within 15 days it will submit its report to the education department,” said Darda.

The five-member principals’ delegation demanded scrapping of the online admission process and reintroduction of the offline process from the next academic year.

T A Shiware, principal, K P B Hinduja College, and also chairman, Non-Government College Principals’ Association, who was part of the delegation, said, “Of the 220 days of teaching, we lose more than two months on admissions. Most colleges started by the third week of August, and we will break for Diwali around the third week of October, which gives colleges only two months for the first term.”

The delegation requested the government to do away with the online process and instead ask colleges to make application forms available on their website.

“Students can download forms and then go to five to six colleges themselves and submit them. At least they will be sure of the colleges they will get a seat in,” said a principal.

However, Darda said, “Despite few shortcomings in the online process, it went well this year. But the delegation said several parents, students and teachers have complaints with online admissions, for which the department has decided to form a committee.”

On whether the government will scrap the online process, Darda said, “A decision will be taken based on the recommendations of the committee,” it said.

Observers find the move to scrap online admissions politically motivated as local leaders do not have any say. “The online system is more transparent. If there are loopholes, those objecting to it must suggest solutions,” a political observer said.

Uddhav Thackeray’s son Aditya, who heads the Yuva Sena (the Shiv Sena youth wing) also met the minister with the same demand of the principals on Tuesday.

Thackeray said, “The government servers are so slow that despite using high-speed internet it takes two to three hours to fill an admission form. We are not against the use of technology or development. But the online admission system should also be practical.”

On transparency in the admission process, Thackeray said, “The government can introduce offline admissions and appoint a watchdog to monitor the process.”

The principals’ delegation explained to the education department how the online process was pointless.

“While most seats in top-rung colleges are filled in the offline process (minorities: 50%; in-house: 20%; management quota: 5%), the department is conducting the tedious online process only for the remaining 25% seats. Most city colleges have a minority quota. After the online process, admissions go offline, which is a double exercise for most students and colleges,” said Shiware.

What Went Wrong

    Academic session delayed by more than 2 months
    Due to delay, colleges unable to conduct unit tests, even completing syllabus before term-end exams is difficult
    Most students not content with colleges they are allotted
    Many students with higher percentages unable to get college of choice
    Betterment option allowed only once
    Most top-rung colleges, which are either minority or have in-house quotas, complete 75% admissions offline
    Students filling wrong options in forms leads to chaos and queues at guidance centres

Principals get government to review online system

More Education news