DOTE in a fix over engineering admission counselling schedule

There is also a fear among the DOTE authorities that if the State government extends the lockdown further till April 30, the original schedule to begin the online registration process of applications for engineering admissions in May first week too will have to be postponed.

Accordingly, officials claim that rescheduling the whole process, from registration to counselling to admissions, would adversely affect thousands of students.

A senior official from DOTE told DT Next that last year the online registration process for engineering admissions had started on May 2. Stating that this year also it was planned for the first week of May, the official said: “Still there is a slight possibility if the evaluation of answer sheets of Class 12 students starts immediately after April 14, provided the government does not extend the lockdown) and the results are published before May.”

The official, however, said that if the lockout is further dragged, it would be difficult to complete the engineering admission process by July end, which was the usual schedule, and colleges will not be opened as per usual plan in August first week.

“If the announcement of Class 12 results is being postponed by a month to the end of May as against the usual schedule of April last week, the engineering colleges will be able to open for the first-year students only by September or October after completing all the admission formalities, that are likely to start from June and could take about three months,” he added.

Pointing out that with students already under severe stress after being forced to keep indoors for weeks together, he said “any further delay in declaring the Class 12 results will create more anxiety among them as they will be having a very short time to face the semester exams in the colleges, normally scheduled for November, once they get admitted in September or October as per the current scenario.

In a bid to reduce stress and anxiety levels among several lakh government school students — who are keeping themselves indoors without classes and any other activity due to the lockdown — across the State, teachers will be donning the role of counsellors in the remaining days of the lockdown period.

School Education Department’s move to engage teachers for counselling and keeping students in good spirits came against the backdrop of several enquiries from the parents on reopening of schools as they complain that their children were undergoing severe stress.

A senior official from the Directorate of School Education told DT Next that though there is a toll-free helpline for students to get psychological counselling, it was felt that teachers are in a better position to handle the students since they have seen the interests of their pupils in the classrooms.

“As there is information that the Centre might extend the lockdown, it would be difficult for the parents to make them stay indoors,” said the official, adding: “Teachers would be able to help in this circumstance by getting in touch with their students and giving the much-needed tips to keep them in good spirits.

Accordingly, apart from counselling, teachers will also involve in engaging the students in education-related activities and introduce them to playing quiz, puzzle and other such through social media. “In addition, the teachers will also provide health tips for kids to stay safe,” he said adding “this exercise will continue till the reopening of schools”.

Stating that the teachers will be involved in counselling only with the parent’s consent and based on the student’s requirement, the official said the authorities were also thinking to involve youth and eco clubs to connect with students and teachers to take up and share meaningful environmental information.

Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Association president PK Ilamaran said most of the teachers were already in touch with their students and providing the required information. He said the students could be under further stress if the lockdown gets extended. “Even students have started calling their teachers seeking advice,” he said.