Prof.Saleem Ayaz Rather
The selection process for admission to various Post graduate as well as diploma courses shall be on the basis of merit in the Entrance Test and on the basis of the Academic performance of the aspirants in qualifying examination. A notification issued by the University of Jammu reads as “Admission to PG Departments of the university of Jammu; Jammu/ campuses/Affiliated Colleges shall be made on the basis of Entrance Test and the academic performance in the qualifying examination respectively. The final merit of the candidates out of 100 shall be calculated by giving a weightage of 40 i.e. marks obtained in the Entrance Test and a weightage of 60 marks to the Percentage of marks obtained in the qualifying examination- the 60 shall be calculated by giving the weightage of 20% each to the percentage of marks in part I, II, and III. But during the last two years the final merit of a candidate out of 100 was calculated by giving a weightage of70 i.e marks obtained in the entrance test and a weightage of 30 to the percentage of marks obtained in the qualifying examination. The 30 shall be calculated by giving the weightage of 10% each to the percentage of marks in part I,II&III seprately. Earlier the candidates applying for Masters degree programmes were less than the no. of seats available and in some departments seats used to remain vacant due to non availability of candidates but with the passage of time the no. of candidates applying for post-graduate courses unfolded an increase and selection of candidates for admission to various post- graduate courses was made on basis of merit in the qualifying examination. The academic merit was determined as under. For example a candidate who applied for admission in M.A. sociology, his academic merit was determined by adding the marks obtained by the candidate in the concerned subject in part I, II, &III to the total marks obtained by the candidate in the qualifying examination. For example if a candidate had 102 marks in part I in sociology 100 in part II and 105in part III, their total became307 these marks were added to the total marks obtained by the candidate in the qualifying examination which is for example 930 then the final merit of the candidate becomes 1237 out of 2100.Thus the select-list would be released on the basis of this final merit and the candidates were given one or two day-time to join their respective departments and if any candidate failed to join within the stipulated period, the candidate next in position of merit used to be considered for admission . . Now since Entrance Test has been introduced in order to make the admission process more transparent and there is no doubt that lot has been done in making the university a seat of excellence. The academic calendar and examinations are being conducted in time and timely announcement of results have added one more feather to the successful functioning of the University that has sent across a great relief to the deserving students especially hailing from the far-off areas of the state. The pattern of admission has been added as one of the most positive contribution to the medication process of the University Calendar. . An other step taken by Jammu University is that the Question- Booklets are retained by the candidates after the examination is over, this will help the candidates to maintain the record of correct answers marked by them and thus they will be pre-disposed to expect and accept their fate. Not only this, the university authorities have also decided to publish the answer key in all disciplines that will again also help the students to know their merit in the entrance test.
Some suggestions that need considerations are as under
It would be better if the entrance test were of 100marks- 80 marks allotted to the concerned subject and 20 marks for the general questions without giving any weightage to the Academic performance since in most of the universities where entrance test are conducted, the merit of the candidate is determined on the basis of Entrance Test whereas in some universities Entrance Test is followed by the Viva-voce/interview which is the most controversial part of the selection where, as per the general perception, the favoritism-factor plays its ugly role in the selection but university of Jammu has done a marvelous job by substituting the Viva-voce part by giving 60% weigh age to the Academic merit leaving no room for any favoritism as the candidate can easily calculate the 60% weightage given to their academic merit .
The setting of Question Booklets followed by evaluation of answer Sheets should be handed over to some independent Agency outside J&K state so as to maintain secrecy throughout the entire process.
3) If a candidate feels that his/ her answer sheet has not been evaluated carefully and he/ she was sure to be in the merit list but could not find the name in selection list, a provision be introduced in which Xerox copies of the Answer Sheet/detailed result can be provided to the candidates after charging some amount of fee as may be fixed by the university. By doing so more and more transparency will be maintained.
The entrance Test centers be Setup at District headquarters as has been done during the last two years so that students from far flong areas may not feel any problem since mercury reaches its climax during these months.
(The author is HoD Zoology Govt College Thannamandi)
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