Teachers seek single window entry in aided colleges in Tamil Nadu

Some associations of teachers and university students have recently made submissions to the top officials of the state's department of higher education, seeking the latter's permission to introduce a single window system of admission to the state's government-aided arts and science colleges and private self-financing colleges.

The office-bearers of the associations -- Association of University Teachers (AUT), Madurai Kamaraj, Manonmaniam Sundaranar, Mother Teresa and Alagappa University Teachers' Association (MUTA), Makkal Kalvi Kootiyakkam, and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) -- have been banking on the state government to introduce the system in the coming academic year; the majority of them noted that the system would bring transparency in fee structure and reservation.

In April of last year, while K Karmegam was the collegiate education commissioner, a committee for the purpose was formed and made recommendations on the adoption of the single-window system.

But the process was suspended subsequently by the higher education department.

AUT former president P Thirunavukarasu described to TNIE that the system, already implemented for admission into engineering and government arts and science colleges, could surely be used in government-aided arts and science colleges and self-financing private colleges.

If introduced, the system will stop collection of capitation fees and make admissions and reservations transparent. One application will suffice for a student to apply for admission to a course in state government-aided arts and science colleges, he added.

Makkal Kalvi Kootiyakkam coordinator Prof R Murali said, "While initiating the system, the government has to clearly mention that stringent action would be initiated against institutions that act against the norms."

MUTA ex-general secretary M Nagarajan stated that a merit-based entry system, besides providing social justice, would enable the students to select colleges and courses according to their preference.

"Today, aided colleges are extorting huge amounts of fees from the students for the aided courses. It should be done away with," he remarked, making the allegation of inaction by the government on this count against the managements of institutions on the complaints of students.

He further added that introducing the single window system of admission would "put an end to all the irregularities that are being done at government-aided colleges and self-financing institutions."

DYFI district treasurer S Veldeva said, "The government can establish district-wise facilitation centres to facilitate the admission process smoothly, enabling students to select colleges and courses online."

Although TNIE tried, higher education department principal Secretary C Samyamoorthy and joint secretary private college management association of Madurai Kamaraj University Zone M Davamani Christober could not be contacted for comment.