Protests march CET document verification
The decision had upset the students and they pointed out that a last minute change has upset their prospects.
Bengaluru: The first day of the document verification process for admissions to various professional colleges in the state in accordance to the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) 2018 began on a chaotic note, with students availing sports quota staging protests at the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) office here on Tuesday.
Student sportspersons, who had excelled in various disciplines including chess and kabaddi, gathered outside the office to demand their inclusion under sports quota. The government has rendered them ineligible under the sports quota from this year.
The government order released by the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports had written to KEA asking them to include only those students with achievements in 32 Olympic disciplines for admissions. The decision had upset the students and they pointed out that a last minute change has upset their prospects.
"We have been devoting our time, energy and efforts for these sports items to represent the state and country at various levels and such a decision is a huge disrespect not just on an educational basis but also to the sports fraternity," remarked a student.
Other sport disciplines also include trampoline and pentathlon, which see lesser presence even at the national level, adding to the disgruntlement of the students.
Clarifying the issue, KEA Executive Director Vinothpriya said that the CET cell would function only as a verification authority to the Higher Education department for the process.
“However, we’ve requested the authorities to try to continue with the existing rules to avoid panic and complications in the process. The final decision is up to them," she said.
Document verification put off
KEA, on Monday, released a notification mentioning that the current schedule for document verification process for regular candidates across disciplines has been withdrawn until further notice.
A highly placed source at KEA told Deccan Chronicle that the revised schedule would be out soon and the process would begin from June 11 instead of June 7.
The decision will provide a huge relief to students as the NEET results were announced only on Monday with some candidates yet to register themselves with KEA for seat allotments.