Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Thumbs up to online counselling, but caution and transparency needed

Kerala has now opted for an innovative Internet-based, online system to enable students to make their choices with regard to professional course admissions. But is it an idea whose time has come? Are there any concerns among students and parents over its suitability and appropriateness, as compared with the conventional system of counselling that was being followed? Our readers respond...

Make the system foolproof

As information technology (IT) is fast penetrating into everyone's life and activities, there is nothing wrong in exploiting its amazing qualities for use in selection and admission of students to professional courses. But students and parents can have apprehensions about the new system of making choices for admissions.

Moreover, before making use of IT, certain issues have to be solved. Most students and their parents may not have sufficient knowledge regarding practical applications of different branches of study and chances of employment offered by each of them. In conventional counselling, these issues are solved to some extent. The second problem is regarding transparency of the selection process. All details of allotment have to be made fully transparent.

A foolproof, interactive software system, with no room for malpractices, has to be developed and used for the selection process.

C. Mohan

Thiruvananthapuram

Easy, efficient procedure

This time, the State has opted for online counselling to professional courses, the first of its kind in the country. It is an innovative method, welcomed by students and parents alike.

Candidates are allowed to register their options, and allotment is strictly based on merit and rank. Therefore, its correctness cannot be less than the conventional counselling procedure. Besides, online counselling eliminates the delay in the process caused by scrutinising of mark lists, eligibility certificates and so on.

The database is highly secured. The password option overrules any fear of malpractice. Online counselling can be done at home, and help desks are available for those with no Internet access.

This is a technological era and the IT sector is fast developing. Hence, it is the right time for introduction of online counselling. It is going to be an easy, efficient and foolproof procedure.

Shreya A.S.

Thiruvananthapuram

Not everyone is

Net-savvy

Advent of the online Centralised Allotment Process is a welcome act, as it is convenient, indicating modernisation of the allotment process. But, in reality, it turns out to be "convenience as a curse" for many. There are still many regions in the State where the Internet has not made its impact. Many people are still unaware of the so-called online facilities and its usefulness. For them, the launch of online counselling proves to be a real inconvenience.

Online allotment process is highly sensitive to misinterpretations in comparison with the earlier process, and a small miscalculation can harm a student's further studies and spoil his dreams.

Keeping these two drawbacks in mind, the earlier allotment process was far better than the new one in the present scenario. And a time will come when all people will get accustomed to the Internet, and this will eventually lead to a smooth and convenient online allotment process for all.

K. Manu

Thiruvananthapuram

A welcome innovation

The Kerala Government's new venture in utilising technology to advantage to introduce an Internet-based, online system to enable students to make their choices with regard to professional course admissions is innovative and is to be welcomed. And the authorities concerned have made elaborate arrangements to help students who have no personal access to the Internet to register their options. In case of any change or introduction of a system or procedure, there will be some apprehension.

But the officials readily clear doubts. Sufficient caution is also exercised to keep the identities of the students safe. Online counselling is going on smoothly.

However, the merits, or otherwise, will be exactly known only when the final results come.

A. Jacob Sahayam

Thiruvananthapuram

Beneficial, but caution needed

Online counselling saves time and energy for parents, students and the Commissionerate for Entrance Examinations. Students are provided an opportunity to directly view and choose the available options. They get more time to analyse the options, study their pros and cons and take the most appropriate decision regarding their career.

E-counselling imparts greater transparency to the whole system. Certain precautionary and maintenance measures should be taken to achieve the desired results. Web pages should be made more user-friendly so that all students can register their choices without strain. Frequent updating, reliable data back-up and vigilant monitoring of the system is mandatory.

There should be a demonstration of choosing the options for the students prior to the actual exercise. Adequate measures should be there to counter hackings, unscrupulous manipulations and other possible offensive actions in the software. Online counselling is an ideal example of the diversification of the e-governance programme. It is worth extending to all other branches of administration.

Mohammed Riyaz A.

Thiruvananthapuram

Students in remote areas affected

A large number of parents and students are concerned about the suitability and appropriateness of the system now introduced for selection of candidates for admission to professional courses. Many of them do not have Internet connections at home or nearby, necessitating visits to Internet cafes far away from their houses or to facilitation centres or help desks set up by the authorities concerned at or near district headquarters.

The authorities do not seem to have cared about the plight of parents and students residing in remote villages where even now electric supply is not available. In view of the above, it is too early to follow such an online system, considering the common people's awareness about such a system and computer literacy in the State.

The conventional system hitherto followed was fully accepted and appreciated by all quarters of society without any apprehension. The present apprehension on the part of parents and students could have been avoided had the authorities thought of incorporating the candidates' option for the courses and colleges in the computer data sheet along with the applications for entrance examinations. This practice of obtaining options of candidates for courses had been there for more than 10 years since the inception of the Commissionerate of Entrance Examination in 1983.

P. Achuthan

Thiruvananthapuram

Universally acceptable system

From the first day of online counselling itself, it has been proved beyond doubt that the system is universally acceptable, whether all students do have Internet connections at home or not. There are sufficient number of cyber cafes set up even in remote villages, and hence, people can approach them, register themselves and give their option. The advantages are less travelling expenses, time is saved and the result is instant; hence, people will accept this innovation. The only problem is when the system develops snags and no one is there to rectify them. If this is solved, there will be no hold-ups, things will move smoothly, and this attempt at introducing IT will be highly successful.

P.M.G. Pillai

Thiruvalla

Informed choice impossible

Till last year, students were able to opt for courses based on their rank and availability of seats on real-time basis. But, under the present system, students cannot follow that practice. They cannot make an "informed choice."

Now, because of the reservation criteria in self-financing colleges and reduction of number of merit seats from 50 per cent to 18 per cent in such colleges, there is no mechanism to help students get to the right option. Last year's last rank for a particular course in a particular college will not guide a student because of the additional economic division introduced in the self-financing colleges.

Another disturbing fact is that, since the allotment is not on real-time basis, while giving the options one has to be exceptionally cautious in giving priority to the required courses and colleges.

Let all students submit their choice of options online. Based on the eligibility of options available to each student according to the rank, he or she may be intimated online. Based on this, all the students may give their confirmation of options. Based on this, the final allotment may be published.

K. Ajith Kumar

Thiruvananthapuram

No room for even one blemish

There was a time when parents and students could decide exactly which college and course they were going to opt for after checking the daily allotment list.

Then, they could make the best possible choice which suited most of their needs. But now, the scenario has changed.

With online counselling being implemented, giving options has become a mere gamble. After all, it is a matter of one's career. Although it avoids the problem of travelling, there are still areas that require clarification. One has to be careful enough to make the wisest choice and not to make the slightest blemish.

Preethy Nair R.K.

Thiruvananthapuram

Nothing to worry about technology

The system of online counselling is a welcome move. It saves a lot of time for those who seek admission to professional courses. Now, an applicant can easily sit in front of a computer and without any rush, he or she can easily get information about counselling and related areas from the Net.

A majority of the parents and students are concerned about the suitability and appropriateness of online counselling because they are unaware of the new technology. But in the age of online money transactions, there is nothing to worry about this new method of counselling. It is high time the Government implemented such innovative ideas because the number of applicants seeking admission to professional courses was increasing. The burden of counsellors will also be reduced.

Till the new system becomes popular, the Government should run the conventional method too. So, those who do not have Internet access can make use of the conventional system.

R. Akhil Ratheesh

Thiruvananthapuram

Keeping pace with modern era

The brave move of the Government in giving students the opportunity of choosing their professional courses and institutions through the Internet-based online system is, of course, innovative and keeping pace with the modern era.

Perhaps, it may cause some apprehension in the minds of students and parents to adjust with the new method, but, definitely, they will embrace it in the long run. The system enables students to register their choice of professional courses and the institutions at home or nearby Internet centres. It helps them avoid a long journey, boarding and lodging near counselling centres.

However, waiting for final allotment will cause a little tension than how it is in conventional counselling, where allotment of seat is done on the spot. The new system will be more efficient and effective in coming years when public are convinced of its advantages. In the meantime, opinions for and against the new system are a temporary issue.

R.P. Pillai,

Alappuzha.

A progressive step

Transformation of counselling from conventional methods to Internet-based online system is a progressive step. In the past, students and parents had to travel very far to reach counselling centres.

In the case of city and urban dwellers, it was not difficult. But students from remote places had to set out at least the day before the date fixed for them. They had to find accommodation and wait for long hours at the centres before being called in. All these were time-consuming and expensive.

Now, thanks to the innovative step of the Government, students can sit at home and opt for colleges and courses. The Commissioner for Entrance Examination deserves praise for having introduced Internet facility.

K. Ramdas

Haripad

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