Foreign colleges will surely tweak admission criteria

DO YOU THINK CANCELLATION OF CLASS XII EXAMS WILL IMPACT STUDENTS WITH FOREIGN DREAMS?

No, Class XII exams Won’t impact students much

The decision of cancellation of CBSE/ICSE high school board examinations induced students to provide diverse feedbacks. Consequently, students wishing to continue higher education in abroad are devastated. In my opinion, this is false. Infact, as a result of this abort call for exams, students can get a chance to pursue their dream. To begin with, the announcement of cancellation of exams has relieved students of the mental stress and saved them from wastage of time which could have resulted due to further postponement of exams and hindered their higher education plans. Now, the students can decide their pathways and prepare for their English proficiency tests and apply for their favorite university/colleges in time. Whilst, a major thought of students about their marks and result of high school could impact the enrolment process in foreign universities. However, I am sure that many universities around the world have lowered their bar by exemption from scholarship tests such as SAT/ACT, additionally, by following lenient approach towards high school transcript percentages. Students should look on the bright side and focus on acting on their plans.

Vishesh Sobti

Students should not worry about it

According to me, there will not be any major impact of cancellation of holding board exams for Class XII. As the main role in the marking and grading system will be played by the school teachers themselves, thus the students will most preferably be benefitted with the move. No teacher would want to bring a bad result to its school and thus all students are expected to be performing well in the present circumstances. Though, the government is yet to disclose the strategy to be adopted for grading students, it probably will be student-friendly and students should not be worrying much about it. As the whole world is battling with the pandemic, even foreign universities are expected to understand the situation and devise new ways to make students eligible and compatible to pursue their higher education in foreign universities.

Parmeet Kaur

Studies should not be hindered

Cancellation of CBSE/ICSE Class XII exams is a wise decision by the Central Government as the pandemic is still raging and youth are getting affected more in the present surge. No doubt it will affect the education of the students who want to pursue higher studies abroad. But here is a glitch. Many so called universities are just fake one-room universities which cheat and extort money from the gullible students in the name of higher education. So the students and their parents have to be more careful and cautious about that. No doubt that the standard of education is much better than in India, but only two-three universities in China and Japan are graded in top twenty universities in the world. Not even a single university from India could make to the list of top 100 or 200 universities worldwide. Cancellation of the exams will affect the future of the students who want to enrol themselves in the foreign universities. The government should find a way out so that the studies of the students are not hindered. The standard of education can be gauged from the fact that most of the Nobel prizes are won by American professors and scientists. Though our IIMs and IITs are quite respected in foreign countries because of the high standard of their education, still much needs to be done to be at par with foreign universities.

Dr JS Wadhwa

Chance must be given to improve score

Cancellation of Class XII board exams has been a matter of concern recently. While several international universities have their own admission process, Class XII marks are often taken into consideration. There should be a proposal under consideration to allow students to take an offline exam at a later date if they are not satisfied with the score given by the school.

Ruchi Setia

Decision has left pupils in quandary

Keeping in mind the health and safety of students in the wake of the devastating second Covid wave, the Centre and some state governments had cancelled Class XII board exams. But this has elicited mixed reactions from the student community. While a majority of them are happy, it has become a major cause for concern for others and their parents. The serious and career-conscious students aspiring to study in foreign colleges and universities are left in a quandary. They are least interested in online courses because these cannot compensate the campus experience. A continuous delay, dilly-dallying and shilly-shallying in the declaration of final results is unwarranted. It might upset the plans of students who have already applied and got provisional admissions, particularly in courses with limited seats, as they might lose their offers and scholarships, and be denied visas. They may also bear the brunt of expenses incurred in the whole process. Those who have recently applied or are yet to apply are apprehensive about either the rejection of their admission requests and fear wasting of an academic year or being left behind in teaching sessions. The global higher education scenario is facing potential challenges due to the pandemic; it has already led to drying up of scholarships, stringent travel restrictions and implementation of new visa rules, and scuttled the chances of students looking forward to studying abroad. Keeping in view the interests of millions of students, the CBSE/ICSE and state boards should end the dither and procrastination and come up with a clear-cut formula to prepare and declare Class XII results at the earliest to enable students to get admissions in their dream universities on foreign lands.

DS Kang

Students confident of realising their dream

Every year, the number of students aspiring to pursue higher studies abroad is continuously increasing. Even the ongoing Covid pandemic has failed to deter their plans; many international educational institutions have reported a higher number of enrolments. Similarly, the cancellation of Class XII examinations and delayed results will also not impact their future interests. Despite confusion and uncertainties, most Indian students look at their education prospects from a long-term point of view; they are positive and confident to realise their long cherished aspirations and dreams. The international education industry thrives primarily on students from Asia. After China, India is the second main source of students joining higher academic institutions in Australia, Europe and the US. During the current health crisis, there has been a major paradigmatic shift in the entire education system worldwide. Mindful of the unforeseen circumstances prevailing in the Asian countries, many colleges and universities have become supportive and flexible. Though they have not changed their academic year, they have temporarily modified the rigid admission criteria. Together with relaxation in marks, they have started giving admission on the basis of the previous semester results or provisional certificates. Besides reducing tuition charges and offering liberal scholarships and other incentives, they are revising guidelines for work permit to attract students across the world. Moreover, in view of the changing academic demands during the pandemic, many prestigious institutions of higher learning have begun substituting traditional teaching methods with live online or pre-recorded lectures, video calls, online assignments and open-book exams. They are also offering umpteen short-skill apprentice online courses. Thus, students can enrol themselves and pursue overseas studies from their home country that may help in further studies and career advancement, and also provide an opportunity for skilled migration to a country like Australia.

Tajpreet S Kang

Need to address students’ concerns

It is unfortunate that the government had to cancel Class XII CBSE/ICSE examinations under the compelling circumstances due to the second wave Covid. A committee of all stakeholders had been formed to formulate an objective evaluation criterion in a fair and time bound manner, the report of which is still awaited. It is estimated that grading will be done on the basis of performance in internal assessments to be integrated with overall performance of previous examinations of Class X and XII. However, the meritorious students and their guardians are worried about their future, the foundation of which is largely based upon the grades achieved in Class XII. Such students who wish to join foreign universities/colleges are particularly worried about their future plans and their concerns being genuine need to be addressed appropriately without delay. It is proposed that those students, who will find themselves dissatisfied with their assessment, may be given an opportunity to be examined in a conventional manner within time frame while ensuring strict compliance with safety protocol. Alternatively, the government may initiate through diplomatic channels to prevail upon foreign universities to accept the evaluations/grading done under emergent circumstances originated from the pandemic adversaries being universally faced around the world.

Jagdish Chander

Edu system needs serious reforms

The government decision to cancel Class XII exams due to Covid has got mixed response. Teachers and school authorities have welcome the decision. Some express happiness while bright students felt that their entire hard work and efforts were of no use and have been wasted. As our education system is completely science-based in approach and transparent, it is expected that the board will declare the result soon so that children can decide their future. Those who wanted to go abroad for further studies and are appearing for competitive exams such as NEET or JEE are more worried. College and universities are starting their admission process shortly and the admission process in foreign universities will be over soon. The cause for concern here is the delay in finalising the evaluation procedure. Students fear wastage of an academic year due to this delay. It is high time to bring a change in the education system. The move to cancel exams is certainly not a good idea, it affects mental health of children, some are facing depression by the feeling that their future is in jeopardy.

Shashi Kiran

Helpline/e-Portal may lessen hardships

Pandemic has brought many changes in our routine life. Exercising restraint on extravaganza, people have skilled in facing adversity whereby social and cultural lifestyle has been rechristened to a new normal. Over the period of intense wave, academic curriculum and allied activities have also been adversely affected due to restricted mobility and various other norms. Schools and colleges are shut since the Covid outbreak and students to the extent possible are pursuing courses through virtual classroom studies. The online system is no doubt laden with inherent weaknesses but under the stringent protocols it looks like the only effective way out to keep on the academics. CBSE/ICSE Class XII exams have been cancelled due to the scare of further spread of the contagion. However, it becomes obligatory for the authorities to maintain uniformity and transparency to prevent any malpractices, while ensuring that the precious time and money of the students is not wasted due to any delay in obtaining required certifications or clearances from departments to pursue their career goals. While online counselling may sound well under the ongoing constraints but there may be certain issues pertaining to the aspirants intending to pursue studies abroad. The world over, most of the educational institutions have resorted to e-practices for admissions to colleges/universities for the courses opted by students and established facilitation centres. Likewise, the Government of India may set up a dedicated helpline or integrated e-portal for assistance and quick redress of problems of students, if any. As manifest of Covid blues, some enrolment hazards for admission in foreign universities/ colleges may still be experience by students but equally rational and appropriate solutions would emerge. Under the prevailing conditions, online admissions being inexpensive and least time consuming will largely mitigate the sufferings and save the future of younger generation in pursuing academics of their choice.

Nirmaljit Singh Chatrath

Foreign varsities will tweak norms

Over the past one year, impact of the Covid pandemic can be seen on various sectors such as industry, trade, business, education and tourism. As the second wave has started receding, the economy of the nation is beginning to recover.

Examinations of students had been deferred by the government to ensure safety of students and avoid them contracting the virus by coming out in the public. Following the move of promoting Class XII students without holding exams, another concern among people now is the criteria through which they will be graded. Passion to go abroad for minting money has been in trend since years, owing to which various nations framed education policies in their universities and colleges paving way for students residing in other nations to study in their country.

Rajat Kumar Mohindru

Students undeterred to give up their dream

• The whole world is fighting with the pandemic and global colleges and universities are expected to provide the students with certain relaxations. The second wave of Covid has put Indian aspirants in a muddle. The cancellation of Class XII exams has further caused a ripple effect for students dreaming to study abroad
• Despite all uncertainties, students seem to be undeterred in giving up their foreign dream. Over 91 per cent of Indian students expressed strong interest in studying abroad, as per a study. Many universities across the world have reported a higher number of enrolments despite the current pandemic situation
• Universities are also offering scholarships and providing students with all necessary support to attract them from around the world. Countries have also announced new guidelines for students applying for work visa on the basis of online classes.

Vanshika

QUESTION

Even in the third phase of the inoculation drive, we are still running short of jabs for the 18+ category. Do you think the government needs to go a long way in strategising a way out so that it can be well-prepared to handle such a situation in future?

Suggestions in not more than 200 words can be sent to [email protected] by Thursday (June 17).

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