As Delhi University keeps its standard of high cut-offs with the bar only rising every year, Union Minister Shashi Tharoor on Monday called the current system ‘unidimensional’ in nature. He stressed that the cut-off system is only damaging the quality of the students by bringing only a particular type of crowd that affects the variety of pass-outs from DU.
Tharoor who is an alumnus of the St Stephen’s College raised his concerns over the skyrocketing cut-offs and said that while he was studying in the university the students were selected on the basis of a variety of criteria which includes debating skills, sports, artistic talents of singing and music unlike the current system which is only focussing on the marks of the students for admissions.
“I am very worried about the current trend of cut-offs. I am not a fan of it. This system has led to students being admitted to colleges from a unidimensional view. This is damaging the spirituality and ethos of colleges who are supposed to develop future leaders. During my times, students used to be selected depending on their all-round quality. Marks were not much of a criterion,” Tharoor said.
Although, he admitted that the Ministry of Human Resource could not do anything about it as the cut-offs system had been decided upon after a Supreme Court directive. He also mentioned that the Government should not interfere with internal matter of the university as that is the job of academicians.
Tharoor who is a former United Nations official recalled his college days and reflected his opinion on the current scenario of the university.
“In my times even students who scored third division marks could get admission if they were good in other talents like theatre, debates and dance. As a result, the students who came to college possessed all round qualities that are necessary for the country’s future,” he added.
Expressing his discontent over the constant disruption of Parliamentary sessions, the Minister underlined that many important bills on education are pending as the Opposition is not letting the Parliament function smoothly. “We want to establish 14 innovation and research universities but we are not able to do so as the bills are pending due to constant disruptions,” he added.