Principals say they did not receive the quota guidelines in time to draw up lists accordingly
Even as the confusion over 70:30 ratio continues to baffle colleges, parents and students, Ruia College on Saturday decided to postpone putting up the second merit list till Monday. “We received a circular on Saturday, and there are certain aspects which need clarification. So we have decided to postpone the second merit list till Monday,” principal Suhas Pednekar said. Sources said DG Ruparel College have also delayed the second list adding that there will few other colleges following suit.
Most colleges said redoing the whole admissions process based on the district quota ruling will not be possible. “The education department can send circulars and reminders, but I don’t think it will ask colleges to redo admissions, for fear of a backlash from parents and students. This will also create chaos and upset the academic calendar,” the principal of another college said. Hence, even as colleges declared the second merit list on Saturday, it was not based on the quota guidelines. “The second list is already out. How can we follow the quota guidelines? It’s too late for that,” another principal added.
The state has asked the education department to follow a 2003 Bombay High Court ruling which asks colleges to follow a 70:30 quota by accommodating 70 per cent students from the same district (Mumbai is divided into three districts).
Some principals said that the circular had not even reached them on Friday. According to St Xavier’s College principal Father Frazer Mascarenhas, till Friday his college had not received any notification regarding the district quota. “So how could we follow it? We are abiding by the notification which the HSC board sent us. I haven’t received any new notice,” he added. Hinduja College principal TA Shiware said while he received the circular only on Saturday, “it indicates that the ruling was only for 2003-04.
Principals’ associations will approach the government on Monday for clearer instructions on the matter.” According to one principal, the education department needs to “get its act together” and stop forcing last-minute modifications. “It’s creating panic among parents and students, who are already stressed. All colleges receive guidelines before admissions. If the department wanted us to follow the district quota ruling, it should have mentioned it in the guidelines,” said the head. “The equalising system has been introduced so hastily that students were caught unawares. The department must now prepare proper guidelines so that the quota system is followed next year.” While the head of a well-known commerce college said that implementing the new rule “will be difficult at the moment”, another added that while the colleges were not against it, “it’s not possible at this stage” to implement it. “Had we known before, we would’ve compiled lists accordingly,” a principal said.
However, some principals said that since parents prefer to send their children to colleges that are close by, once admissions are over statistics may show that the quota guidelines have, in fact, been complied with. “Proximity is a factor, so a large number of students take admission in neighbourhood colleges. So most colleges will, likely, end up complying with the district quota rules,” said Mithibai College principal Kiran Mangaonkar. Sathaye College principal K Rege added: “About 70 per cent of our students are from this area, so we have incorporated the quota guidelines comfortably.”
Even as the confusion over 70:30 ratio continues to baffle colleges, parents and students, Ruia College on Saturday decided to postpone putting up the second merit list till Monday. “We received a circular on Saturday, and there are certain aspects which need clarification. So we have decided to postpone the second merit list till Monday,” principal Suhas Pednekar said. Sources said DG Ruparel College have also delayed the second list adding that there will few other colleges following suit.
Most colleges said redoing the whole admissions process based on the district quota ruling will not be possible. “The education department can send circulars and reminders, but I don’t think it will ask colleges to redo admissions, for fear of a backlash from parents and students. This will also create chaos and upset the academic calendar,” the principal of another college said. Hence, even as colleges declared the second merit list on Saturday, it was not based on the quota guidelines. “The second list is already out. How can we follow the quota guidelines? It’s too late for that,” another principal added.
The state has asked the education department to follow a 2003 Bombay High Court ruling which asks colleges to follow a 70:30 quota by accommodating 70 per cent students from the same district (Mumbai is divided into three districts).
Some principals said that the circular had not even reached them on Friday. According to St Xavier’s College principal Father Frazer Mascarenhas, till Friday his college had not received any notification regarding the district quota. “So how could we follow it? We are abiding by the notification which the HSC board sent us. I haven’t received any new notice,” he added. Hinduja College principal TA Shiware said while he received the circular only on Saturday, “it indicates that the ruling was only for 2003-04.
Principals’ associations will approach the government on Monday for clearer instructions on the matter.” According to one principal, the education department needs to “get its act together” and stop forcing last-minute modifications. “It’s creating panic among parents and students, who are already stressed. All colleges receive guidelines before admissions. If the department wanted us to follow the district quota ruling, it should have mentioned it in the guidelines,” said the head. “The equalising system has been introduced so hastily that students were caught unawares. The department must now prepare proper guidelines so that the quota system is followed next year.” While the head of a well-known commerce college said that implementing the new rule “will be difficult at the moment”, another added that while the colleges were not against it, “it’s not possible at this stage” to implement it. “Had we known before, we would’ve compiled lists accordingly,” a principal said.
However, some principals said that since parents prefer to send their children to colleges that are close by, once admissions are over statistics may show that the quota guidelines have, in fact, been complied with. “Proximity is a factor, so a large number of students take admission in neighbourhood colleges. So most colleges will, likely, end up complying with the district quota rules,” said Mithibai College principal Kiran Mangaonkar. Sathaye College principal K Rege added: “About 70 per cent of our students are from this area, so we have incorporated the quota guidelines comfortably.”