Rethink on admission guidelines: Students' future in dark [Central Chronicle Article]

The higher education department of the state government has issued guidelines for admission to colleges for the year 2007-08. Accordingly, now students who fail to clear the examination, leave studies or are unable to appear in the examination, will not be given admission as regular students second time. These rules would be applicable for both government and private colleges. Also, students against whom challans have been presented in the court or against whom the court is hearing criminal cases, students who were involved in beating up the officials during the education session, or those who indulged in ragging, will not be given admissions as regular candidates. The guidelines do not appear complete in many respects. The department should clear the reasons for adopting this procedure. In the case of not being admitted in colleges where will these students go? Many students fail to appear in exams due to ill health or other difficulties. Some students fail to clear the papers due to not being able to buy books. Such students, even if they have a burning desire to study, would not be able to do so now. In such a case, it is feared they may resort to anti-social activities. The admission issue should be considered from social point of view. What is the alternative for such students? Students involved in criminal cases, or ragging, for them where would be chance to reform? One way for such students could be by reserving 5 to 10 pc seats. Hence the guidelines need to be reviewed so that the failed or lost students may be helped.

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