Rebutting allegations that outstation students do not have facilities to submit online applications for Universities, Chairman of the University Grants Commission, Dr. Mohan de Silva said that it is important that applicants adhere to the regulations provided in the handbook and apply accordingly and within the stipulated period. Prof. de Silva told the Sunday Observer that facilities have been provided for applicants to conveniently and freely forward their applications.
“We are very particular about deadlines. We have very clearly stated so in the handbook which is a legal document. The issue is children don’t read it attentively. This issue has happened in previous years as well. We have provided very clear instructions as to how and where to apply without spending a cent. Yet they go to private internet providers. We have to be fair by all students and not merely a selected few.”
Pointing out that it is high time to make changes in the system to suit new trends, Prof. de Silva explained that it is to minimize impracticalities and to accommodate all students including students who become eligible after re-correction that such a system was put in place.
“We are now implementing many changes, one of which is the online application in order to make the procedure faster. We usually open registration in April and May in which was the case even last year. And this year immense publicity was given to inform applicants that applications could be admitted starting January and the deadline of which is the February 20. This is also to accommodate the results issued after re-corrections. Then we will release the cut-off mark and start registration very early. This helps in cutting down the backlog.”
Prof. De Silva reiterated that applicants should be mindful of all regulations before submitting the applications and that the closing date for applications is the 20th of this month.