The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Single-window: Baby allays fears

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Saturday, May 10, 2008
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Single-window: Baby allays fears

Special Correspondent

Says it is a transparent and scientific process of admission

He is not averse to holding more discussions
Says there is no hidden agenda

M.A. Baby

Thiruvananthapuram: Education Minister M.A. Baby on Friday maintained that the single-window system being introduced for admissions to higher secondary courses was a transparent and scientific process.

The unique aspect of the new system was that it would end the practice of capitation fee and ensure reservation norms were followed, he said at a press conference here.

Seat increase

He also announced that the 20 per cent increase in seats for each batch of higher secondary courses would be applicable only to government schools, and aided schools could apply for it separately if they so preferred.

Allaying fears expressed by various quarters about the practicality of the single-window system, Mr. Baby said it was introduced after discussions with students’ and teachers’ organisations and the school managements.

The allegations that the new system would usurp the rights of school managements and that the students would be put to great hardships and there would be a delay in completing the admission process were baseless.

He was not averse to holding further discussions on the issue. The High Court had stayed the implementation of the system on the basis of a petition filed in this regard.

The case was posted to May 13. The government would implement the scheme on the basis of the High Court verdict.

Applicable schools

The Minister said the new system would be applicable to government schools, merit seats in aided schools and seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

The management or community quota would not be affected. The new system was implemented in Thiruvananthapuram district on an experimental basis and had been widely welcomed by all sections. It had been extended to all the other districts on the basis of its success.

Refutes charge

Refuting the charge that last year’s higher secondary admissions were delayed, he maintained that there was only a week’s delay in completing the admission process in the capital district.

“Under the new system, we propose to complete the admission process by the third week of June. Last year, the HSS admissions were over on July 20,” he said.

Asked about the Opposition charge that the new system was the hidden agenda of the CPI(M), the Minister retorted: “Is there anything that could be hidden from Kerala society?” The details of the admissions would be available on the Education Department’s website.

In reply to a question, Mr. Baby said the system had been implemented in Delhi University and it proved to be a success. The State government did not have any model before it.

With regard to the decision on the increase in seats, he said the Nair Service Society had submitted a petition stating that the seat increase could not be implemented owing to the lack of facilities.

At present, the number of seats in each batch in Plus One is 50. The government would create facilities in government schools to accommodate the 20 per cent increase in the number of seats in each batch, he added.

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