Many youngsters on verge of losing a year, university and colleges feign innocence
Dozens of youngsters who took admission in the first-year MSc Life Sciences, Microbiology and Biochemistry in various colleges affiliated to Mumbai University two weeks back have landed in a soup. They have been told that they are ineligible for the course as per the varsity's revised admission criteria, which was made public only a few days back. The students are now on the verge of losing an academic year.
The students are now running from pillar to post but to no avail. As per the new rules, only those who had studied Life Sciences, Microbiology, Biotechnology or other biological courses in the final-year BSc are eligible for admission in their respective MSc courses. Earlier, even students who did their final-year in Chemistry were eligible for admission in MSc Biochemistry and all biological sciences graduate were allowed to do MSc in Biotechnology or Microbiology.
The revision in the rules was reportedly done in March. The colleges were not intimated though. Neither was the circular uploaded on the varsity website, as is the practice.
Prasad Kamble, who secured admission in MSc (Life Sciences) at St Xaviers College, said, "I did my major in Chemistry in the final-year and had Biological Sciences in the first and second year. As per the rules, I am eligible to take up Biochemistry and that's why the college had given me admission. But now, I am told that I am not eligible."
While some colleges allowed candidates to switch the course as they came to know about the rules, a few are still clueless and have directed students to check with the university. "And in the university, officials are equally unaware and forcing us to do rounds of one or the other department. Senior officials too have failed to offer any solution," rued a student.
Another student said: "I had got admission in Fergusson College in Pune last month but since BSc results weren't declared till then. I lost my seat. Being from a middle-class family, I can't afford to waste a year. I am not interested to do any other course. I worked hard to do my PG in Biochemistry which has huge demand."
Vijay Joshi, Principal of KJ Somaiya College where two such students are in the dock, admitted the lack of clarity. "I have inquired with the varsity but yet to get a satisfying answer."
Roy Pereira, vice principal of St Xavier's College, said: "We have asked the student to get the eligibility certificate from the varsity."
MA Khan, registrar of the university, admitted the fiasco but cited helplessness to provide any solution for the students. "We don't have any solution for them. They can seek admission wherever possible. However, such students are hardly three or four in number," said Khan, whose answer spells the insensitivity of the university.
Khan also blamed the "official concerned" (Dean faculty of Science, Madhuri Pejawar, without naming her) and shortage of staff for the not circulating the information to the colleges. "We are short-staffed and working on severe constrains, so the website couldn't be updated. But the officials who supervised the revision of rules also had responsibility to ensure that the message reaches everyone. They failed to do their job," said Khan.
Pejawar, who is the principal of Bandodkar College, Thane didn't respond to calls.
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