Anna University online counselling a mixed bag for rural students?

However, some professors think it has a downside, since agents from affiliated colleges can manipulate candidates into choosing their colleges.
Counselling on at Anna University in Chennai. (EPS)
Counselling on at Anna University in Chennai. (EPS)

CHENNAI: As Anna University is planning to conduct online counselling from next year, Technical Education Director Rajendra Ratnoo said it will be a big advantage for candidates and their parents coming from rural areas. For, they can get counselling at the place they are based in.

However, some professors think it has a downside, since agents from affiliated colleges can manipulate candidates into choosing their colleges.

Ratnoo said in the physical counselling there is a single round. Candidates have to come from far off places. There are candidates coming from poor background. “We had made arrangements like transportation and other facilities. But, many parents had to lose their wages and were stressed. In the new system, they don’t have to come physically for counselling. There will be multiple rounds and multiple choices,” he said adding that unlike in the present system where in a fraction of second candidates have to decide on the colleges, in the new system, they will have much longer time to decide on the colleges.

On rural candidates not having access to Internet, he said there will be booths or computer centres from where they can access Internet. “The online counselling system is in a formative stage. We are yet to decide how it will function. This system will reduce seat vacancies,” he said adding the authorities were planning to introduce this system from this year itself. But they didn’t want to hurry up.

A professor requesting anonymity said online counselling will be helpful. It should have been introduced five years back given the technological development in Anna University. “This process is being followed in the neighbouring States. During counselling the entire university administration is busy. They would also involve some faculty members who would be given extra remuneration. Even the canteen staff are busy with the counselling,” he said adding that counselling also created huge traffic and transportation issue.

However, speaking of the disadvantage, he said rural candidates may have problems if they do not have access to computers. But there will be booths and computer centres. Again, the agents from other Anna University affiliated colleges can be present in these centres.

“They can manipulate and force the students to take admission in their colleges. This could be prevented in the current system. Therefore, there should be a stringent check in these booths and security guards and police personnel should be present, ”he said.

S Chandramohan, another professor, said for the past few years the university wanted to introduce online counselling. “Practically, whether it will be possible for lakhs of candidates I am not sure. There will be much confusion in normal counselling. While candidates prefer some college, their parents want something else. I am not sure in online counselling whether this would become more difficult for them. There can be internet connection problems. If the strength increases, it will be a big problem,” he said adding there is  transparency in normal counselling. In online counselling it might become difficult to maintain transparency.

However, Ratnoo said as a new system will be introduced, there will be lot of risks. “We will identify the risks and address the negatives of the new system. Since it will be a new system, how to use the online counselling system, we will come up with documentaries. We will also coordinate with the school education department. We will go to schools and involve all other stakeholders,” he said adding that queries from students and parents will be heard and doubts clarified. Before the actual counselling one round of trial will be conducted.

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