Krishnendu Adhikari, Kolkata: Finally, the state has introduced an online portal for college admissions. From June 24th, nearly 9 lakh seats will be available for online application for WB College Admission. Students will be able to apply for admission in almost 25 subjects. Education Minister Bratya Basu has claimed that the portal will bring transparency to college admissions.
Introduction of the Central Portal: After a decade of contemplation, the journey towards college and university admissions has finally begun with the introduction of the central online portal. Students have been facing allegations of bribery and corruption in college admissions, with some even resorting to exchanging money for seats through student unions. Some educators have repeatedly stated that the central online process is the cure for this ailment plaguing the education system. Despite initial hesitations, the state government announced on Wednesday that undergraduate admissions will be conducted centrally online. The admission portal will open from June 24th. A total of 16 universities, 661 colleges, and 7,217 courses in the state will be covered under this portal. However, Presidency University and Jadavpur University are excluded from this process. Students can apply for a maximum of 25 courses. If seats remain vacant after the first round, the second round of admissions will commence.
Education Minister Bratya Basu stated, „There have been allegations of malpractice. Parents were forced to spend extra money. Seats remained vacant. This step has been taken to address these issues. Even after the High Court’s directive, applications can be submitted with OBC certificates. Only the admission fee is required, and the money paid for admission will be considered for the course the student is admitted to. For example, if a student applies for Physics and pays the fee to College A, but later decides to study Chemistry at College B, the additional fee will have to be paid. There is only one admission fee. Single admission fee. Previously, a student could block 4-5 seats at different places, but now they will no longer be able to do so.“
Bratya Basu took over as Education Minister after the Trinamool Congress came to power in 2011. The idea of launching a central portal for college admissions began in 2013. Although the plan was in place for implementation in 2014, it did not materialize. It is heard that a former student leader and several leaders of the ruling party were involved in this process. In 2014, the responsibility of the Education Department was handed over to Partha Chatterjee. In 2021, Bratya Basu returned as Education Minister in the third Trinamool government. The idea of launching the central portal was considered in 2022 and 2023, but it did not materialize.
In conclusion, the introduction of the central online portal for college admissions marks a significant step towards bringing transparency and efficiency to the education system in the state. Students and parents can now expect a more streamlined and fair admission process, free from the influence of external factors. This initiative is a positive step towards ensuring equal opportunities for all students seeking higher education in West Bengal.