Admission to colleges remains an ordeal

The fate of many admission seekers to colleges is still hanging in the balance, even though classes have already commenced at colleges across the country on Wednesday. The government this year initiated online admissions for all colleges, with the boards specifying the colleges where students would be enrolled – an otherwise forward-looking move that faltered because of lack of preparation and management on the authorities' part. The government postponed publishing the results of the merit lists for class XI admission multiple times, finally issuing a faulty and incomplete list only two days before the admission deadline. Not surprisingly, it caused problem for institutions, who could not admit their students on time. Worse still, the list left out the names of 62,000 students. Although officials have said that an updated list would be published on July 6, they could not assure parents whether their children's names would be on it.

It is highly regrettable that the new admission process -- which, given the reliance on technology, should have been efficient and fool-proof – has given rise to unforeseen circumstance for students, parents and administrators.  Giving berths to 52 students in a private university that has not even initiated its academic activities or placement of commerce students in a science college are just two glaring examples of the anomalies in the admission process. 

The educational board must speed up the completion of admission, placing those left out of the lists, and address the concerns of those placed in unsuitable institutions.  The academic session appeared to have been delayed and concerted efforts are needed lest they are thrown off-gear.