MARK-BIASED AND BOARD-BIASED ADMISSION

May, a month when the air is filled with mild aroma of Gulmohar, spreading its branches like a peacock with red feathers. It is a month when beauty lingers in the surroundings.

But that is not all about May. Tension, anxiety, and morale of students is put to test the same month, every year. Students of class X and XII await their board exam results through out the country, no matter which board they belong to.
Every state has its own syllabus unlike a centralized syllabus like CBSE or ICSE. And it also happens that a clash always exists between the state board and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The standards of CBSE syllabus being set by the National Council of Education Research and Training, is based on a concentric curriculum. Whilst State board syllabus being governed by the Department of Education under respective State Governments look forward to completion of schooling with a slightly easier syllabus to follow.

Unfortunately, as we see the trend, choice of boards seems to matter not for the standards and quality but for the result declaration and scoring issues. CBSE students of both Xth and XIIth are loosing the race for XIth and college admissions.

The bifurcation of writing school-based examination or Board-based examination for class X of CBSE has proved to be a pain in the neck. Although the CBSE had declared that there is no difference between mark sheets issued for both examinations, it had also mentioned that students who wish to leave CBSE board must take up board exams rather than school based examination.

This had paved way for the state government to add restriction to admission for class XI students who took up school based examinations and later wanted to change to state syllabus. Students of Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, have been suffering for admissions for past two years. Maharashtra government had relaxed the constraints in the year 2011 calling it a ‘one year exception’ admitting students who had taken up school based exam. The kerala government has shown no mercy till now.

The standard XII students loosing out on admissions in colleges has become a familiar practice now. The delay in result declaration by CBSE has literally outcast them in the race to colleges.

Where states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu had declared their results in the first week of May, CBSE is yet to declare results with tentative dates on the website.

Most of the colleges that compete to absorb high scoring students have closed down admissions for CBSE students filling the seats with state board students under all available quotas leaving one or two colleges in exception.

There is no postulated rule by the government stating that colleges should a lot a quota for CBSE students and hence it is solely under the college’s discretion to admit them.

The Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education has set few guidelines for college admission.

i)                To start admission process only once the original mark sheet has been issued

ii)              To give a period of 10 working days to submit the application after issuing of original mark sheet.

iii)            To complete student admissions in aided courses prior to self financing courses.

As the above norms haven’t been followed in the colleges of Tamil Nadu, CBSE students loose chance even for unaided courses.

Most admissions are done based on the printed copy of mark sheet from the internet. By then CBSE students do not get a chance to apply and they are left with a few available management quota seats for which they have to shell out a heavy price.

The desperation to fill seats of colleges by the management, not abiding by the guidelines and also not giving a chance for CBSE students to learn has made the higher educational sector a dirty playground for money. It is a scenario where monetary benefit takes a step ahead, a scenario that showcases complete discrimination against students, which will make education a rottening business than moulding future of younger generations to come. Lack of qualitative monitoring and analysis system for both result declaration and admissions across the country might soon bring about an obsession for prepossession of seta by the student community who will loose confidence in education and gain access to capitation.

This worsening condition has to be soon put under scanner by the government bringing about a systematic process for admissions in schools and colleges. Bringing policies in effect to firstly, give clarity on examinations to be undertaken, boards to be accepted, and also a quota for CBSE students. These regulations can be brought about only if the decisions are made by the centre and not leaving it to the state authorities alone. A centralized procedure for admission is to be generated which should be mandated to be followed through out the country.

Though an easy take on centralized syllabus can be put in place, it is better said than done. Bringing about same syllabus through out the country with immediate effect would prove to be a struggle for failure as students of rural areas will be largely affected considering the amenities they enjoy today. A gradual replacement process within a decade can be definitely put on place, if the rulers and police makers combat to bring an educational revolution in the country.