Posted on 04/09/2006 11:23:49 AM PDT by The Lion Roars
With their share of seats in elite institutions under threat, students have become a restive lot and the academic community is in turmoil over the controversial move to reserve seats in Central Universities, IITs and IIMs which has revived the 'merit vs quota' debate in the country.
HRD Minister Arjun Singh's latest move to reserve another 27 per cent seats in 20 Central universities and IIMs, IITs and NITs following the 'Mandal formula' has sent shivers among sections of students belong to the upper castes.
The proposal, which is before the Union Cabinet, if implemented, would lead to a total reservation of 49.5 per cent, drastically reducing the chances of students in the 'general' category.
One estimate puts it that the seats in Delhi University for the general category could be reduced by over 13,700 from the total of over 35,300 seats.
Similarly, the move to hike reservations in IITs, where entry is tough, is expected to result in a cut of nearly 1,330 seats in the general category.
Admitting that the proposal would reduce intake of students unless the seats are increased, faculty members of IIM-A felt that the step would "adversely affect" the qualilty of the premier institutes.
However, protagonists of the move say the proposal was long overdue for the socially deprived classes, who had been kept out of the mainstream for ages.
Affirmative Action is a Quota in everything but name.
Merit will always produce the greatest amount of excellence. Other methods of admission (no matter who they discriminate for or against) serve only to reduce the overall excellency of the Universitys product.
BUMP
Hmm, sounds like a market opportunity to me. Start private schools in India, hire top teachers and provide best facilities.
I am not sure but I think that even private schools need to follow the quota rules. Fabian Socialism at its best (or worst)
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