Meritorious find other colleges better than LU

NOT ONLY has the weeklong  agitation at the Lucknow University (LU) failed to achieve the desired result for students, it has also taken its toll in a rather unexpected way—meritorious candidates seeking admission to UG or PG courses have given up up the idea of joining the varsity! The creme de la crème of candidates are preferring to join various affiliated degree colleges like Avadh Girls, IT PG College, National PG College and other institutions where academics are given priority over politics.

While the LU is still struggling to declare the UG and PG entrance test results, admission work at other educational institutions is nearing completion. As July comes to an end, many candidates with good academic records have switched to other degree colleges. They reckon that the ongoing agitation at the LU was just the beginning of another unsettled year.

Student leaders have once again done what they are best at. They have dented the varsity’s image and have created fear in the heart of candidates keen to study at LU. Parents of girl candidates are worried about safety and security of their wards while boys sees no future at LU. Candidates fear they will lose a year if they fail to make it at LU when varsity declares its results.

Bhaskar applied for B Com I at LU and National College. He was desperate to get into LU since many of his relatives have studied there. He appeared for the entrance test and his name appeared in the merit list of National College but he was still waiting for LU to declare its merit list. The turmoil at LU forced him to change his mind and he sought admission to National PG College.

He says: “I was obsessed with the idea of studying at LU. Many of my family members have graduated from LU. I wanted to carry out the family tradition. But the relentless student agitation and the weeklong pandemonium prevailing there prompted me to change my mind. I deposited the fees at that college and would start attending classes from next week.”

This is not a lone case as there are several other candidates who changed their mind and sought admission to various affiliated degree colleges. Deepshikha switched to one of the prestigious girls college, dropping the idea of doing BA from LU. “My parents, especially my mother, is apprehensive that I would not be safe at varsity,” she said.

With meritorious students opting out from LU and seeking admission elsewhere, varsity would be left with no other option but to take in candidates with low merit who are denied admission by other institutions. Net result: The tall claim of LU to go for academic growth would take a serious jolt as once again low merit candidates find place.

Says MP Singh, dean of Science faculty, LU: “Undoubtedly, by the time admission process starts at LU, it will be over at other degree colleges. Sadly, we would be left with mediocre class while those with a good academic record would have taken admission at various affiliated degree colleges.”

The session is already delayed by a month. It seems, more days would be lost before proper teaching work resumes. Something urgent needs to be done.