For the first time this year, Anna University officials sought the help of students to manage the crowd during the single window counselling for engineering courses.
First-year students helped the candidates or their parents get ready for counselling sessions. But, more importantly, they also advised students on what they should look for when they chose a college.
Engineering college principals and officials have always maintained that candidates should do their homework before choosing a college. Students of the College of Engineering, Guindy, who were part of the volunteering group, and some seniors played a pivotal role in many cases. One third-year student said candidates were told to avoid colleges that lacked infrastructure.
“Ultimately, it is about learning the subject. If a college doesn’t have laboratories or qualified teachers, there is no point in joining it,” says Rahman, a postgraduate student of the College of Engineering, Guindy. Students say parents and candidates often wanted to know whether the college was ‘strict,’ or about the quality of hostels. “Very few ask us about the quality of education. A student can graduate despite poor hostel facilities. But if there is no laboratory, he will have no understanding of concepts,” his friend added.
M. Sangaiah, a final-year undergraduate student from the Tamil medium of engineering in the same college, said students should not depend on colleges for placements. “They must also take the initiative to make the best use of facilities provided on the campus and pursue their goals,” he said.
Last year, it was only on the 10 day of counselling that over 1,000 students remained absent. But this year, on the third day itself, 1,021 students did not turn up. Officials say it is normal for students to opt for other courses or change their mind, but this happens more frequently towards the end of counselling.
Higher education officials say the 10-day delay in the start of counselling could not have caused this impact. The university released the merit list and candidates were assured of seats in colleges of their choice. They believe the greater options now available could have caused the mass exodus from engineering.
50% seats filledOn Sunday, the penultimate day of counselling, 50 per cent of the seats went vacant, and 1,02,636 seats had been allotted. According to the Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions website, 1,01,441 seats are vacant. After the last round of counselling on Monday, more seats than last year will remain vacant. Last year, 1,20,311 seats had been allotted through the month-long, single-window counselling.
