In Gujarat, the admissions process for PTC (Primary Teacher Certificate) colleges has come under scrutiny. Complaints have emerged regarding irregularities in the allocation of seats, particularly in the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category. Although the admission process has been completed, colleges have yet to publish the merit lists. This has left many parents worried about the fairness of the admissions.
The admissions for PTC colleges are crucial as they prepare students to become teachers in primary schools. With the completion of the admission process, colleges have verified the seats allocated to students. However, the merit lists, which should outline which students have been admitted based on their scores, have not been released. This lack of transparency raises concerns about potential violations of the merit system. Parents are voicing their fears that the admissions may not reflect true merit.
In the past, it was common for students to pay large sums as donations for admission into these colleges. However, due to the excessive approvals given to colleges and a decrease in job openings in primary education, many students are now left without jobs after completing their PTC. Recently, there have been discussions about a significant recruitment drive for primary teachers in the coming decade, prompting many students to opt for PTC courses in hopes of securing government jobs. As a result, this year’s PTC admissions have seen a notable increase.
Previously, there was a centralised admission process for PTC colleges. However, over time, as fewer students enrolled, the process was handed back to individual colleges. Currently, colleges are assigning seats based on merit, but they have not disclosed any information regarding the merit of admitted students. Students have been informed via phone calls about their acceptance and the payment of fees, but details about other students’ scores remain undisclosed.
The Primary Education Department has recently started verifying the admissions given by granted colleges. Despite the verification being completed, the merit lists have not been published. At present, there are approximately 10,000 seats available across 35 granted, 4 government, 8 diet, and 49 self-financed PTC colleges in the state. Allegations of malpractice and neglect of merit have surfaced regarding admissions in the EWS category in some PTC colleges.
For instance, a student was contacted by a PTC college in Ahmedabad, indicating that he was eligible for admission under the EWS category. However, when he arrived to pay the fees, he was informed that he did not meet the merit criteria for admission. This incident highlights the lack of clarity regarding how many students were admitted and based on what merit within the EWS category.
Parents are now demanding immediate publication of the merit lists from PTC colleges. They believe it is essential to know how many students were admitted under each category and the corresponding merits of those students. The transparency in this process is crucial for maintaining trust in the education system.
As the situation unfolds, stakeholders in Gujarat’s education sector are hopeful for a resolution that ensures fairness and transparency in the admissions process. The demand for clear information is growing, and it remains to be seen how the colleges will respond to these concerns. The future of many aspiring teachers depends on the clarity and integrity of the admissions process.
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