Your intervention in the admissions process will lower the academic standards of the University of Jadavpur, JU-Edexlive

The Association of Professors of Jadavpur University (JUTA) said on Tuesday that the notification from the State Department of Higher Education (SHED) regarding admission to undergraduate and postgraduate courses “is likely to have a negative effect on the academic standards and excellence of our university “.

JUTA General Secretary Partha Pratim Roy said: “Such interference and government interference with the rights of higher education institutions stifles their independence and freedom of thought.

In a statement, JUTA said that each university should have the power to decide matters relating to admissions, programs, etc., keeping in mind its history and the socio-economic conditions and backgrounds of its students and potential students. In a notification issued on July 14, SHED said: “The online admission process must be merit-based.”

“Prospective students should not be called in for advice or document verification during the admissions process,” JUTA said.

“This notification goes directly against the autonomy of universities,” added the association. “We are sure that the government will take into consideration the fact that the teaching community of the University of Jadavpur has come forward to bridge the digital divide that exists between its students and has given due importance to the concept and practice of social inclusion, ”JUTA said. “No physical presence will be required at the college / university,” JUTA added.

Claiming that the JU has not received any help or support from the state or central government to continue its academic activities during this pandemic period, JUTA said that the teaching community and the statutory bodies of the university are the better placed to decide what serves the academic interests of the university and its students.

In accordance with the JU statutes, the admissions committee is the final decision-making authority regarding admissions. “To deny such processes and procedures which were formulated after proper consultations between teachers, students, researchers and other experts at the University of Jadavpur, using the excuse of the ongoing pandemic, is deeply anti-education,” he said. declared JUTA.

Referring to the notification, JUTA said the government has not prevented private and independent higher education institutions (funded by NGOs), whether colleges or universities, from performing admission tests, allowing them to assess the merit of those who wish to be admitted to their courses. . “Yet, as a government-funded institution, we are deprived of this right to conduct such a merit assessment for students who wish to be admitted to our university, and, therefore, we are often deprived of the possibility to admit truly deserving students, ”the faculty said.

The notification from the higher education department clarified that in view of the success of the online admission process last year with the required infrastructure already in place, admission to all UG and PG courses in state-funded higher education institutions for the ensuing 2021-22 session will be done online without calling anyone on campus, “JUTA said. Upper secondary exam results to be announced in Bengal West on July 22. The vice-chancellor of the University of Jadavpur, Suranjan Das, could not be contacted.