TNN, Pune edition, 11th Aug 2008

ADMISSION FIASCO

Mumbai: Now, there is statistical evidence to prove that the percentile system has given an unfair advantage to state board students vying for junior college admissions with ICSE and CBSE students.

Just a handful of students from the nonstate board have made it to the premier colleges this year, reveal figures submitted by the state government to the Bombay high court.

In fact, the data submitted by the state government to the Bombay high court after the close of the second round of admissions shows campus composition has altered dramatically this year.

Last year, of the approximate 950 seats in one of the city’s best college for commerce — H.R. College of Commerce and Economics — a little over 600 slots were occupied by ICSE and CBSE students. This year, 603 SSC students have got it, as compared to 20 CBSE students and 316 from the ICSE board. “The situation has reversed this year. Last year just about 300 SSC students managed to make the mark,” said H.R. College vice-principal Rekha Bahadur.

This year, 521 SSC students have secured admission to the science stream at Ruparel, as compared to 64 ICSE and 15 CBSE students. All this information was provided by the state government to the HC in the contentious percentile case.

This year, the state introduced a ‘normalisation formula’ with an intention to bring students of all boards on par; however, this formula has been challenged by a set of students and the ICSE board, which later joined the fight against this apparent normalisation process.

Similarly, St Xavier’s college has admitted 241 SSC students as compared to a paltry 61 ICSE and 26 CBSE candidates this year. Ruia College principal Suhas Pednekar too pointed out, “The state board students have out numbered the other two boards this year on my campus too, thanks to the percentile formula.”

What’s even more shocking is that while the state applied the normalisation formula for the three boards, as TOI had reported earlier, there was nothing designed for students from other boards. According to the information provided by the state, 1,918 students from other states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, as well as international boards, could not take advantage of the percentile system. “They were admitted on the basis of their actual scores,” acknowledged an officer from the deputy director’s office.

If 2.59 lakh students cleared the SSC exam this year, 2.06 lakh students have taken admission in junior colleges in the Mumbai region, comprising Mumbai, Thane and Raigad. Most students have opted for commerce, followed by science and arts.