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Vashi2Panvel.com: Navi Mumbai: February 15: Every year as the number of students appearing for SSC and HSC examinations increase, the competition also increases. And hence the scuttle to reach the top. Students burn the midnight lamp to outscore their immediate rival and get an edge over the other. But is academic performance the only criteria to decide the capabilities of a student? Where do the lessons about cleanliness, punctuality and enthusiasm taught in the pre-primary, primary classes disappear in this mad race for “getting more marks than him/her”? Do they really matter once you clear your matriculation? What qualities are the college principals looking at in a student at college level?

It appears that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) students are at an advantage, as they are receiving two certificates, one which explains the academic performance and the other the comprehensive assessment of a child in the school. Clifford Lewis, principal of Changu Kana Thakur Vidyalaya School, New Panvel opines, “A certificate giving a comprehensive statistics of a child should be provided by schools because it really matters. Besides, it also adds weight to the child’s curriculum vitae.”

Many principals feel that it’s a good move by CBSE to provide an extra-certificate to the students but at the same time it’s unfair to other students. They voice that all students should be given this certificate so that the students do not face any problems during the time of admissions and jobs.

Today most of the colleges are looking for students who are multi-talented. Arundhati Nikam, principal, St. Lawrence School, Vashi feels quite pleased with this initiative taken by the CBSE and recommends other boards the same too! Meera Kuntha, principal of St. Joseph High School feels that the decision lies entirely with the college. “If the college has more extra curricular activities then it would prefer multi talented students. Otherwise, they’ll be more than happy to admit an academic scholar.”

But Y.B. Bhide, principal, S.I.E.S College seems to mouth an opinion which goes out of sync with what the other schools and colleges feel. “The admission procedure depends on different kinds of colleges. It is a government rule that academics be given more preference. If I were to choose, I would prefer a student who’s empowered with more knowledge over a student who is good at extra-curricular activities,” he says.

Though schools’ and Jr. Colleges’ principals might be pleased to admit a multi-talented student over a scholarly one, Dr. Katti, Principal- Dattamegha College of engineering says, “All this doesn’t apply in courses like engineering. Here academics are very important. And students who excel in academics also suffer as the course is quite tough.”

Aarti Shah