Heads of Khalsa College raise concerns over common portal

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 14

An emergency meeting was held today at Khalsa College in which principals of all seven Guru Nanak Dev University-affiliated-Colleges under Khalsa Colleges Charitable Society (KCCS), Amritsar, raised serious concerns over the new Common Admission Portal, being launched by the Punjab Government. Terming the new system as a direct attack on the autonomy of the colleges, they said it would be ruinous for the education that will trigger large scale harassment for the students.

The meeting was chaired by KCCS secretary Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina. The state government has announced to launch the centralised admission portal for session 2021-22 academic sessions for colleges under the GNDU, Amritsar, Punjabi University, Patiala and Panjab University, Chandigarh. Under the new system, all admissions in the colleges will be made through this integrated portal.

“This is a highly illogical and irrational decision which will not see the test of the time. The colleges are already hit with the Covid and this system will be a further blow to the higher education in the state,” said Chhina, following the meeting.

Khalsa College Principal Dr Mehal Singh said there was a statewide resentment over the issue as he condemned the move by the government. There was a unanimous view that the government must take back the decision as education sector was already passing through a fragile period and such centralisation will prove to be detrimental for the future of the students who will face harassment in the hands of the agents.

Apart from him, Principal of Khalsa College for Women Dr Surinder Kaur, Principal of Khalsa College of Education Dr Harpreet Kaur, Principal of Khalsa College of Education, Ranjit Avenue, Dr. Surinderpal Kaur Dhillon, Principal of Khalsa College of Law Dr Jaspal Singh, Principal of Khalsa College of Chawinda Devi Dr HB Singh and Principal of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur College for Women Nanak Singh took part in the meeting.

They said several problems in the system has not been addressed while taking the decision, such as how will the students deposit online fees, seek concessions, change subjects as earlier they used to approach colleges for such routine works.

“Earlier, the state governments had introduced such common admissions for the BEd, Law colleges which had miserably failed. Now the government is introducing the same failed system and all the colleges in the state,” said Chhina, adding that many college principals and management are holding meetings on this to oppose the move of the government tooth and nail, adding that the existing system is suitable for the diverse needs of the students.

Pupils at the receiving end

Khalsa College Principal Dr Mehal Singh, said the single window process will complicate the process for students. He said the centralised admissions routed through Chandigarh will not offer fee adjustments and options like change of subject. Colleges offer the facility of fee instalment for students who cannot pay whole fee at one go, which is the case with the common portal system. Also, a student would not be able to change the subject once admission is done as there is no such option given in the new system. Students who do not have Internet access, will have to seek admissions through commission agents, making them vulnerable to financial exploitation.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.