AICTE ‘50 per cent' norm leaves State in a fix

Colleges, students oppose stipulation on qualifying marks for admission to professional courses

Government fears that students will react strongly, though many will not be affected

Officials feel that if the government ignores the norm it might lead to legal hassles

HYD: The ‘50 per cent mandatory' guideline newly introduced by the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) for entry into professional courses is turning out to be a test for the government with the AICTE maintaining that it has to be followed, and students and college managements strongly opposing it.

The AICTE put the new guidelines on its website that 50 per cent in the qualifying examination is mandatory for entry into professional courses. It means students planning to join engineering courses have to score 50 per cent in the core subjects of Intermediate and those preferring MBA or MCA courses have to get 50 per cent in their degree examinations. However, five per cent relaxation is given to reserved categories.

Written clarification

Given the sensitivity of the issue, more so in the State where craze for engineering courses is enormous, the government decided to write to the AICTE seeking a written clarification on it. However, the AICTE replied asking the government to refer to the Guidelines Approval Process Handbook placed on its website. The AICTE refrained from giving anything in writing, but at the same time made its stand clear. In fact, the AICTE Chairman, S.S. Mantha, during his recent visit to the city also expressed similar views when asked about it.

Now the government is in a dilemma as it fears that students will react strongly though many would not be affected by the norm. Last year statistics reveal that less than 3,000 students admitted in the engineering courses had marks below 50 per cent. But there is another argument that a few more thousands who take admission in the management quota also fall into the category. And college managements have already strongly opposed it and urged the government to bring a special order nullifying the AICTE norm.

Plea to defer

Officials feel if the government ignores the norm it might lead to legal hassles. “How will the government defend itself if the issue lands up in court after the admissions are over?” an official asked.

The only option available with it at present is to request the AICTE to defer the norm to next year as it had been made public in the middle of the academic year. “Students can approach the court and their argument might find favour,” an official said.