Higher secondary examination dates prompt colleges in Kolkata to draft admission plans – Times of India

Apart from the Bengal board, other boards—Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)—have also started sending out feelers to their affiliated institutes about Class XII board exams. The education ministry has sought the opinions of different states on conducting CBSE Class XII exams and offered them a few options, while CISCE on Friday asked its schools to submit this year’s ISC candidates’ scores in all tests in classes XI and XII by June 7. These moves have raised hope among colleges that they might be able to start the admission process by the end of August.

J D Birla Institute, affiliated with Jadavpur University, has decided to start the admission process by June-end or the first week of July—before HS starts —to send out a signal to students that even if their school-leaving exams are delayed, college admission will be smooth. “Students can fill online forms. They can provide their marks when the results are declared and those who make it to the merit list can take admission. This will boost students’ confidence,” said Deepali Singhee, principal at J D Birla Institute.

Governments and boards are now trying to figure out ways to conduct board exams, following Covid-safety rules, so that an academic year is not wasted. Bengal government has decided to hold HS exams before Madhyamik so that college admissions can begin.

The admission process usually starts once the state board Class XII exam results are published. “The decision to hold HS exams in July-end gives us a clear picture but everything depends on how good or bad the pandemic situation gets. If the board takes even a few weeks to publish the results, we might be able to start admissions by the first week of September. It will be a relief for thousands of students,” said the principal of a south Kolkata college.

Last year, UG admissions began in the first week of October and went on till January this year as the institutes struggled to fill seats. “We have been told that this year, too, the entire admission process will be online due to the pandemic. So, we are testing the technical side before the admissions begin,” said another principal of a north Kolkata college.