Guwahati: Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu on Thursday said that the ranking system in the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) Examination and Higher Secondary (HS) Examination will be removed from the upcoming academic year.
Minister Pegu informed about the government’s which shall come into effect from the next academic year.
Pegu backed the government’s decision by stating that the ranking system has no significance in present context since institutes of higher learning does not consider it as a criteria for enrolling new students.
Briefing newspersons, Pegu said, “No one can get a job by producing a certificate of securing a rank (in HSLC examination), nor does anyone can avail admission, if somebody secures a position in Assam than IIT Madras will not enrol him or her, so it has no importance at all. The ranking system in Assam is something which is socially recognized. But the government does not recognize it, technically no institute in this globe recognizes this ranking. So what’s the use of it which is not officially recognized?”
Pegu further substantiated the government’s idea to scrap the ranking system, saying that whoever cannot make it to the list often tend to suffer from depression, some of them even resorting to harsh steps like suicide.
The Assam Education Minister said, “When one (whoever secures rank) is motivated at the same time the rest totally gets demotivated. It (the ranking system) disappoints thousands of students (who cannot secure ranks). Today’s trend show that many even decide to quit studies, whereas it is also seen that students resort to harsh steps too. The award or recognition should be such that it helps in the future course. I want to say that if institutions like IIT Madras, AIIMS enrolls a student by looking at his or her’s certificate of ranking, than it (ranking) should remain. But if such institutes of excellence do not recognize the ranking system than why should we keep it?”
