Caught in crossfire, Delhi University aspirants run from pillar to post

With the Central Board of Secondary Education at loggerheads with Delhi High Court over the marks moderation policy, aspirants to Delhi University and their parents seem to be caught in the cross-fire.

Aspirants believe that the delay in the examination process will lead to a last minute mad rush to admissions, something that DU officials had tried to avoid with the online registration process.

The High Court's decision directing the CBSE to not scrap the marks moderation policy was hailed by many.

However, the celebration did not last long after the CBSE said that it would approach the Supreme Court and appeal against the HC's decision.

"Our children have already been so stressed. They have to grapple with a lot of pressure and now with the CBSE and the courts fighting over the marks moderation issue, my son has become really stressed. They (CBSE and courts) should not have been fighting at this hour," said Poonam Jain, the mother of an aspirant.

Many students, who now have to choose best of four subjects to get admission, will have to wait till the results are announced to make their choice.

"We have no time to make a proper strategy. By the time the results would come, we will lose out on precious time stressing over the results," said Rajat, a DU aspirant.

However, there are some students who are relieved that the results will be delayed. Vishal, another DU aspirant, from a government school quipped: "I am glad the results will be delayed. My parents will pester me on the day of the results and I want to delay that".

Meanwhile, DU officials have made contingency plans in case of a delay in the CBSE results. "A committee had been working anticipating such problems. Several college principals have been a part of this committee and we have also made plans at crowd control," a University source said.

Officials also vented their ire at the marks moderation formula tabulation prescribed by the CBSE.

They said that there will be a spike in the moderation marks because of giving grace marks without taking into consideration the guidelines.

"A set wise moderation must be done rather than a board-based moderation. In some cases, high grace marks are given, like in Mathematics grace marks have been set at 15. What kind of moderation is this?" demanded an official from the Students Welfare Committee.

DU officials, meanwhile, refused to comment whether the cut-offs will increase due to the marks moderation.

However, according to the Convener of Admissions Committee, Manoj Khanna, the University may increase the number of seats for Non Collegiate Women's Education Board (NCWEB).