As students rush for admissions, schools pick & choose

VIBHA VERMA

vibha@herald-goa.com

PANJIM: The Class X pass percentage recording a high of 90.93 has led to a rush for admissions as students are fiercely competing to get into the top higher secondary schools, even as schools have raised the bar by upping the cutoff percentages. 

The demand, particularly for the Science stream, is growing every passing year with some HSS marginally increasing seats with permission from the Education Department.

“Our cutoff percentage soon after the results (announced on May 25) was 90 percent, which we eventually froze at a little above 87 percent. We received a number of applications from students. The rush began the day after results were declared,” Manager of Margao’s Shree Damodar HSS of Science, Bhai Naik told Herald.

With the closure of a reputed HSS in Margao, the pressure on this institution has increased as it runs five divisions in the science stream accommodating hundreds of students. “Quality students need a quality educational institution. Parents get worried because of which there is rush at institutions soon after the results,” he explained.

HSSs geared up to handle the escalating number of admission seekers increasing intake but not compromising on cutoffs. Purushottam Walawalkar Higher Secondary School, Khorlim Mapusa set a cutoff for science at 75 percent, commerce at 65 percent and arts at 50 percent. Principal Anil Samant said they still have around 40 applications on the waiting list in each stream. “There are 120 seats allotted in each stream. We increased 10 seats per stream this year,” he said.

Similarly, Panjim-based Dr K B Hedgewar HSS, having 42 seats in science, and 40 each in commerce and arts witnessed a similar scene. “We received applications above the cutoffs set for the three streams. Except for arts, the seats in science and commerce are full and many applicants are on waiting list,” Acting Principal Shankar Vadkar stated.

Owing to the impressive results recorded every year, the HSS, in its third year, set 80-85 percent cut off for science, 60-65 percent for commerce and 50-55 percent for arts. 

Mushtifund HSS has also not spared any concession on the cutoffs as requirement to secure admissions to geology is 82 percent, biology 88 percent and maths and science 88 percent. This comes with securing minimum 75 percent in English. For commerce, the cutoff is 65 percent. “Although admissions are closed, we have applications on the waiting list,” Principal Navnath Parulekar said. 

Dhempe HSSS of Science, Commerce & Arts has also raised the cutoff. According to a teacher, even students securing 68 percent and seeking admissions for arts are on the waiting list. For science, the cutoff was raised from 75 percent to 90 percent and commerce from 55 percent to 80 percent. “We revised the cutoffs because students seeking admissions came with much better percentages. All the seats are full with only management quota left. The scrutiny of those in the waiting list is still on,” the teacher, speaking on behalf of Arts Principal Roopa Khope said. 

Education Department said the rush is primarily due to National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) – an additional optional subject that helped many students clear the Class X exams. “Besides increase in students appearing, NSQF has added to more students passing the exams,” Director G P Bhat said. 

Goa Board Chairman J Rebello conceded that the course has come as a relief to students. A student can take it up as the seventh subject and can pass any subject taking advantage of the passing marks obtained in NSQF. For now the course is only in government schools with the department considering extending it to aided HSSs from the coming academic year.