Online glitch stalls admissions for 2 hrs

STUDENTS UNFAZED Six days left for last date of submission; 60 pc of students have admitted forms

MUMBAI:

After four days of smooth online admissions, on Tuesday morning several students were unable to submit their forms because the server was shut down to make software changes for two hours between 11.30 and 1.30 pm.

"At around 1.15 pm when students tried to submit but they could not log on. However, we waited and within 15 minutes we were able to resume the process," said Rohit Bhat, principal of Children's Academy at Kandivli.

Education department officials, however, said that the problem lasted only for 30 minutes.

"Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Limited was making some changes in its software which is why they had to shut down the server," said on official. "It is unlikely that this will recur."

Students, too, seemed to take the glitch in their stride.

"Officials at the guidance centre told us the servers were down but would start working soon, so we did not panic," said a student standing in queue at Seth G.H. High School and Junior College at Borivli, who did not wish to be named.

More than 60 per cent students who passed Class 10 in the city this year have already submitted their admission forms online. The final date for submissions is July 26.

"We will receive most of the forms within the next two days but the admission schedule will remain the same, we will not abbreviate it," said an education department officials.

The admission process for students who appeared for the Allowed To Keep Term (ATKT) exam in October last year will have to submit forms after all the admission lists are out.

They will be given admissions depending on availability of seats after admissions of students who passed in the first attempt are done.

This is this the third year of the online admissions. The previous two years saw major gliches during admission as servers crashed.

Students wants quota for being part of cultural activities

Bhavya Dore

If students have taken part in cultural activities, then why not give them the same benefit?

MUMBAI:

This year Sujay Shah (16) participated in an international cultural festival in Turkey, but much to his chagrin, the certificate will not help his overall percentage. While students who play state, national or international level sports will get 25 extra marks, those with cultural achievements will get nothing.

"Even other activities like participation at Model United Nations, dramatics and art should be recognised," said Shah. "We also invest time and energy in these."

In 2007, the SSC board announced that students excelling in sport at the state level or above would get 25 extra marks. In July this year, the government extended the facility to students from other boards after some ICSE parents challenged it in court.

Sujay isn't the only disgruntled students whose non-sporting achievements will not be translating into marks that could give his percentage a leg-up. Parents and principals point out that children achieving cultural landmarks should also benefit from the extra 25 marks policy.

"If students have taken part in cultural activities then why not give them also the same benefit," said Sandhya Balakrishnan, principal of Avabai Petit School at Bandra. "After all they have also put in effort."

Another parent pointed out that extra marks policy should be uniform. "They should either give marks for all extra-curricular activities or for none," said Bhushana Samant, a parent.