The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

NEWS AND VIEWS

PUNJAB

HARYANA

JAMMU & KASHMIR

HIMACHAL

REGIONAL BRIEFS

NATION

OPINIONS

LETTERS

BUSINESS

SPORTS

WORLD

SPECIAL COVERAGE

CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

M A I N N E W S

ADMISSIONS TO DELHI COLLEGES: DAUNTING CUT-OFFS
WHEN 99% MAY NOT BE GOOD ENOUGH
Aditi Tandon/TNS

New Delhi, June 15
As the cut-offs to preferred courses in the prestigious colleges of Delhi University (DU) skyrocketed yesterday - with its best commerce institutions seeking 99 to 100 per cent Class XII scores for admission to BCom (Hons) from non-commerce students - the government has labelled the trend as “irrational” and said it would correct the aberration.

This is the first time in DU’s history that inconceivably high cut-offs have been set by colleges, reminding the government of the acute shortage of quality institutions - something that directs the burden on the few good ones that exist. In the end game, the students suffer as lakhs compete for limited seats.

In its first cut-off list for BCom (Hons) released yesterday, for instance, the famous Sri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) sought 100 pc score from students who didn’t study commerce in Class XII. Only one student in Delhi qualifies for the course by this yardstick. Conversely, those who studied commerce need to have 96 pc aggregate in the best of four subjects in Class XII.

Hindu College has also made distinction by seeking 95.5 pc from commerce students wanting enrolment in BCom (Hons) course as against 99 pc from those with non-commerce background. Keshav Mahavidyalaya’s cut-off range stood between 94 and 97 pc for commerce and non-commerce students, respectively, while Lady Sriram hiked its BCom (Hons).

HRD Minister Kapil Sibal was quick to protest and said he was saddened by the move. “It’s like the college saying that a science student with 99 pc is not good enough for admission to a commerce course. We can’t discriminate like that. I have asked the DU Vice-Chancellor to correct this irrationality,” he said. On their part, SRCC and Hindu have simply pushed admissions out of reach for non-commerce students.

Picture this - SRCC has just 252 BCom (Hons) seats. When contacted, principal PC Jain defended the 100 pc cut-off saying it was meant to screen and not discourage students. “How do you reject without criteria? We have hiked BCom (Hons) cut-off by 0.75 pc and Economics (Hons) by 1.75 pc. These cut-offs should go down in the second list, but our first cut-offs for commerce are quite reasonable and we may fill all seats in the first go.”

Jain’s remarks rendered useless the assurances DU Vice-Chancellor Dinesh Singh gave today when he told students that cut-offs would fall in the lists to be declared on June 21 and 27, July 2 and 8. He added that DU statutes would be altered to prevent irrational cut-offs by colleges.

Meanwhile, high cut-offs are being blamed on students’ brilliance. Dinesh Singh said 200 CBSE Class XII pass-outs had scored over 95 pc marks last year, but the figure was around 800 this time, resulting in high cut-offs.

Students disheartened
Jyoti Rai/TNS

New Delhi, June 15
As fears of sky-rocketing cut off marks came true with Delhi university’s first cut-off list today, most of the aspirants have become disheartened. However, many colleges have termed the cut-off list as “unrealistic” stating that most colleges played it safe with such high cut-offs as with no pre-admission forms this year they did not have any data to base a cut off on. Also, it is anticipated that the cut offs are likely to mellow down in the next cut off lists.

With Sri Ram college of Commerce declaring a full 100 per cent cut off for non commerce background students for it’s highly popular Bcom (honours) course, several science and Arts stream students who had been pinning hopes of getting through the college have been left high and dry.

“Rather than declaring a 100 per cent cut-off for science students, the college could have straight away told us that they did not wish to entertain students from science and arts stream. I scored a 98.7 percent from Science stream and now I am stranded because I am not eligible for SRCC now. My only chances are in a second cut off list, if at all they have a list this year,” said Mitisha Sharma, a B com (hons) aspirant at SRCC today.

However, in the meantime, students are having a hard time choosing their college and their course. As admissions to the first cut off list begin tomorrow, the university had many aspirants thronging the premises with numerous enquires.

Not Just SRCC, but many other colleges like Hindu, Kirori Mal, Keshav Mahavidyalaya and others that have Bcom (hons) cut off at 99 and 98 percent admitted that the first list was made to avoid any over rush.

“We have limited number of seats for the courses. We have pegged the cut off a little higher as of now. Once the admission starts tomorrow, we will have some idea regarding the number of students turning up. That will give us a good basis to work on the next cut off. Also, by then, colleges like SRCC and Stephens would have filled their seats. No body wanted to invite any rush, this first cutoff is caution list. Students need not be disheartened,” said Proffesor Bhim Sen, Principal Kirori Mal College.

Nevertheless, students are disheartened and angry as well. They are confused and say that they cannot believe that after working so hard for board exams, they have been reduced to numbers.