Colleges federation meets minister, seeks deferment of Common Admission Portal

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 17

A delegation of Non-Government Colleges Federation of Punjab and Chandigarh on Monday met Punjab Cabinet Minister for Higher Education Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa seeking deferment of Common Admission Portal for the next 2021-22 academic session. They said the new system being imposed was discriminatory, hitting autonomies of the colleges and full of inherent flaws.

The deputation submitted a detailed memorandum to the Bajwa, which apart from Common Admission Portal also pointed large-scale interference into the working of the colleges by the Education Department. The decreasing grants, nomination of representatives in the managing committees of the colleges was also discussed in detail.

The deputation was headed by federation’s vice-president Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, who is also the secretary of Khalsa College Governing Council. The federation, comprised of representatives from colleges of Jallandhar and Amritsar, had been critical of state government’s recent move to impose centralised Common Admission Portal for the Colleges falling under GNDU, PU and Punjabi University, Patiala.

Meanwhile, representation of aided colleges from city has also demanded the state government to release the financial aid to colleges. Dr Rajesh Kumar, principal DAV College, one of the aided colleges in city, said financial crisis in the colleges has deepened due to non-release of grant by the Punjab Government. “Due to the pandemic, fewer admissions are being witnessed. Also, the fee waivers that colleges are giving to students unable to pay fee in one go due to pandemic related economic impact, too, are draining out reserves from colleges. Staff salaries and other expenses are being affected.”