UGC urged to safeguard Mannar students rights

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 October 2004, 14:03 GMT]
The Organization of Parents and Guardians of School Children (OPGSC) of Mannar District Friday urged the Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to implement the original residential requirement of five years to obtain university admission to safeguard the educational interests of students born and bred in the district, which is declared backward for the purpose of higher education.

Relaxation of 5 year residential requirement to three years with further concession of one and a half years plus one-day stay in the district to qualify for university admission has caused immense injustice to Mannar born students as few students from outstations have gained university admission from Mannar district during the academic year 2002/2003, stated in the memorandum sent to the UGC by the OPGSC.

The five-year residential qualification until the academic year 2001/2002 provided a golden opportunity to Mannar district thus producing few doctors and engineers and other professions based on the district quota system. However this achievement was short-lived and came the admission guidelines for academic year 2002/2003 with the relaxation of five years to three years, the memorandum said.

"Although the Education Ministry has stopped the implementation of three years' residential qualification the UGC is still continuing to implement the three-year residential qualification. Hence we appeal to the UGC to amend the Guideline for the University Admission from the academic year from 2002/2004 and go back to the 5 year-residential requirement in accordance with Education Ministry policy," OPGSC said in its memorandum.

OPGSC President Mr.T.P.Sinnathurai of Chavatkadu, Mannar and General Secretary Mr. A.Santhiogu of Vidathaltheivu have signed the memorandum with copies to Mannar Bishop, Mannar Government Agent, Minister of Education, Vanni district parliamentarians, Education Ministry Secretary and Mannar Zonal Director of Education.