‘Parents, do not panic’

Parents of Murali (name changed) ‘booked’ an engineering seat in the management quota just after his half-yearly examination. The stream and college was decided by Murali’s father.

This was in spite of the fact that Murali was a very good student who had 100 per cent chance of getting a seat in the single-window counselling of Anna University.

Once the booking was done, the pressure mounted on Murali to get very high marks because he had to meet the college’s cut-off, failing which the capitation fee would be hiked.

By the end of the examination he was a nervous wreck and could not come out of it even after he joined college.

A good student, Murali failed in all the papers in the first semester and the same continued in the second semester too, till his father was forced to discontinue his engineering studies and admit him in an arts and science college.

For educationists and counsellors, these are everyday cases, some borderline and others severe.

Single window engineering admission in Tamil Nadu is now an established case of many seats and a few takers. Educationists say that every student who applies for an engineering seat is assured of one.

Yet, the clamour for a preferred course and a college makes parents put undue influence on their wards to go after that particular course and college.

R. Hemambika, psychotherapist and counsellor, who works mainly with school and college students, says the situation is very bad.

“Parents are the main culprits. The future of their child is not based on his interest and aptitude, but on their own prestige, ego and social compulsions. Their main aim is to show to their relatives or neighbours that their son / daughter is an engineer or a doctor,” she adds.

“CA, designing, Defence, dance/music, photography, besides others, are very popular among the higher secondary students, but unfortunately not among parents,” she says.

E. Balagurusamy, former Vice-Chancellor of Anna University, says that though parents are to be blamed, the system is also part of this.

The examination and evaluation system is based on rote that a student who scores every high marks in Plus-Two is not able to manage a pass in the first semester of engineering or medicine.

It has become worse with the Samacheer Kalvi system where students are awarded 200 out of 200 marks in subjects and even in languages,” he adds.

He says if the Government regulates the admission to management quota seats, much of the pressure on students will be reduced. Private colleges will only be keen to get as many numbers as possible because the competition is great.

Students will be able to study and write their final examinations peacefully if the management quota admissions are entertained after the Plus-Two examinations, he adds.