JU admission: English, Comparative Lit depts decide to admit students only on basis of entrance test

Kolkata: The English and Comparative Literature departments of Jadavpur University (JU) have disapproved the recommendations of the expert committee and have decided to admit students in the undergraduate level only on the basis of marks scored in entrance test.

The two-member admission committee formed by JU had recommended admission with 50 percent weightage on admission test and another 50 percent on the marks scored in higher secondary or equivalent examination.

"Bengali, International Relations, Philosophy and History departments are in favour of equal weightage. This was decided at the meeting of the admission committee for humanities on Thursday," said Subhasish Biswas, chairperson of the committee.

The English and Comparative Literature departments have been conducting admission tests for decades and after the problem with admission process, they had to revert back to the 50:50 formula in 2018. "Now, they have decided to admit students only on the basis of marks in the admission test. The decision of the meeting will be placed before the executive committee (EC), whose meeting is scheduled for next week," a member of the admission committee said.

It may be mentioned that EC is the highest decision making body in the varsity. In 2018, that there were allegations of improper evaluation of answer scripts of History and the varsity had to conduct re-evaluation with external academicians. It was found that there was a significant variation of marks secured by the candidates in the first and second evaluation.

There were as many as 15 changes in the revised selection list for History. A total number of 15 candidates, who were on the waiting list after the earlier evaluation, made it to the selection list after re-evaluation. A total of 344 scripts were re-evaluated. The merit list for admission was prepared on the basis of the 50:50 system.

The varsity had then formed a two-member panel to come up with recommendations for admission. The panel had presented the same to Vice-Chancellor Suranjan Das in February.

It may be mentioned that state Education minister Partha Chatterjee has said that all the departments at JU should follow a standardised admission process. It should be either on the basis of marks or on the basis of admission test.