Withholding decision of common admission portal need of hour: Dr Samra  

Jalandhar: Dr. Gurpinder Singh Samra,  Principal Lyallpur Khalsa College, Jalandhar and President, Principals’ Association of GNDU Affiliated Non Govt Colleges has appealed to the state Government to withhold the decision of formation of online common portal for admission of students in degree colleges of Punjab from 2021-22 onwards. He said that the B.Ed. model of common portal for admission could not be completely successful for degree colleges, therefore it was needed that the government  reconsidered its decision. He urged the three state universities to come together and work on things such as common curriculum, exam schedule. He also said that the government must  give sufficient  time to the universities for related preparation. He expressed his apprehension that in the times of Covid -19,  going to Suvidha Kendras and internet cafes for registration could prove a major health risk for the students.  In addition, the lack of internet and awareness in rural areas may prevent the students from registering themselves on the portal. He added that the rural and urban colleges of Punjab were already going through financial crisis due to Covid-19 and declining enrollment of students and with the creation of Saanjh Online Admission Portal by the government, enrollment in colleges would further decrease , causing a threat to the existence of these colleges.

Dr Samra requested the government to withhold the implementation of this decision. He also lauded the taking up of the issue by the Non-Government Colleges Management Federation of Punjab and Chandigarh with the state Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh, Minister Higher Education Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa and the Secretary Higher Education.