Best-five: Parents and pupils at end of tether

Patience of students and parents is on the wane as the legal tangle regarding the best-five policy has delayed the admissions yet again.

“All my excitement about starting college is fading out. Even the holidays have dragged on a little too much. I am not sure if I will get admission in the college I prefer,” said Vinay Kamat, a student. 

Even the parents are uncomfortable. “It’s hard to see my daughter growing anxious by the day. We are yet to celebrate her nearly 100% score in SSC exams. My patience is wearing thin,” said Suyash Achmani, housewife from Dombivli. Due to another attempt by the government to give a ‘level playing field’ to students passing out from the state board, city colleges are again facing the prospect of starting classes late. 

“With admissions getting delayed, our academic year will be short. Teachers will have to work harder and cover up the course. It is compulsory to have 181 days of teaching, but with holidays and exams coming in between we won’t be able to reach that target,” said TA Shivare, principal, KPB Hinduja College.  

Such delays in admission are not new. In 2008, even as students waited anxiously for the high court’s decision on the percentile system, junior colleges started functioning by the third week of July. Last year, with the 90:10 controversy stalling the admissions process till the second week of July, colleges could start classes during the first or second week of August.

“This time too I think the first unit test will have to be cancelled. We need to finish more than three chapters before the test, but since we will lose some 15 days, it won’t be possible,” said Minu Madlani, principal, LS Raheja College.