The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Entrance topper unsure of medical seat

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 08, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Entrance topper unsure of medical seat

Staff Reporter

Sundaravadivel had taken the improvement exam this year He had joined a coaching centre in Rasipuram and spent Rs. 30,000 to improve his performance in the TNPCEE

VELLORE: The abolition of the Tamil Nadu Professional Courses Entrance Examination (TNPCEE) has caused anguish among students who obtained a high cut-off (the aggregate of the marks obtained in the Plus Two public examinations and the TNPCEE) and were sure of admission into courses in Anna University and other well-known colleges.

L. Sundaravadivel, who was among the 11 candidates who ranked first in the State having obtained a centum in the medical stream of the TNPCEE 2005 was especially upset. Mr. Sundaravadivel had appeared for the TNPCEE for a second time, having decided last year to improve his performance in the medical stream. He obtained a cut-off of 298 in the TNPCEE 2005, as against 290 which he got in TNPCEE 2004, and was sure of an MBBS seat in the college of his choice. Now, however, the Government has decided to admit students based only on their higher secondary marks.

Mr. Sundaravadivel said that his aggregate in biology, physics and chemistry in the higher secondary public examinations in 2004 was 198/200 whereas several students have obtained 200/200 in the public examinations held this year. His chances of getting admission this year are, therefore, remote. He had joined a coaching centre in Rasipuram, spending Rs. 30,000, to improve his performance in the TNPCEE. "The entire effort has become a waste," he said.

K. Loganathan, Sundaravadivel's father and a lawyer, said that nobody would have been affected had the Government decided to abolish the TNPCEE with effect from next year. Having conducted the TNPCEE 2005 and announced the results, the abrupt decision to admit students based only on their higher secondary marks affected the prospects of the students, he said.

The Tamil Nadu Higher Secondary School Vocational Teachers Kazhagam has welcomed the abolition of the TNPCEE. In a statement, D. Ramachandran, state president and S.N. Janardhanan, state general secretary of the Kazhagam said the abolition of the TNPCEE has obviated the need of Plus Two students to appear for two public examinations. It was great relief to the students and parents, who used to arrange special tuition for their children during the summer holidays following the 11th standard annual examinations spending considerable amount of money.

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