Opinion! AMU Kishanganj too close too far for locals?

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The Kishanganj Centre (campus) of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is all set to start from this November with B.Ed. (Bachelor of Education) course for 2013-14 session. The announcement made by AMU administration of 21st September, 2013 to start Kishanganj Centre with B.Ed. was widely welcomed. It was dream come true for locals, educationists and activists struggling to get the hurdles cleared for the establishment of AMU Kishanganj. The online forms were submitted for B.Ed. till 7th October, 2013 and entrance will be conducted on 27th October, 2013. Of course, this is the time for celebration for all, but a big question that strikes to my mind time-and-again is related to admission of local candidates from Purnea division and Seemanchal region.

AMU Kishanganj Centre

Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Aligarh is considered among the best institutions in India offering B.Ed. course at its main campus. The entrance test for admission in B.Ed. course always remain high class and it is not easier for candidates with little preparation or knowledge to crack the same. Based on the trend of AMU main campus B.Ed. admission test, it can be understood that the entrance test for Kishanganj Centre will be held on same norms and competition is going to be very tough. I don’t doubt the merit and preparation of local candidates from the area, but this would be nothing wrong to say that outsiders may also qualify the test for admission in B.Ed for AMU Kishanganj Centre.

Hopefully, the AMU administration will launch more courses in the coming time at its Kishanganj centre. Again the question before would be the intake of locals based on their performances in the entrance test of the respective course. Even the AMU Vice Chancellor Lt. Gen (Retd.) Zameer Uddin Shah had expressed his concern over the admission of locals at Kishanganj centre in different courses. Mr. Shah looked interested to start the school from Primary level at Kishanganj so that they can get admission in higher classes or professional courses. 

In short it can be said that AMU Kishanganj seems too close too far for candidates of Purnea division, neighbouring Uttar Dinajpur and Seemanchal region. There are a total of 60 intakes in B.Ed. for AMU Kishanganj centre consisting of different streams. There are reserved seats for internal students of AMU, who have done graduation from the university that usually remain around 25% of the total seats. The externals will fight for remaining 75% seats that may be captured by the locals or outsiders based on the performance in the entrance test. Whatever would be the percentage of locals in final selection this is going to be very interesting and would set a trend for next session. But, if the locals fail to get the handsome share (percentage) of seats this would lead to many questions on the merit of having AMU centre in Kishanganj and its benefit for locals. So, wait for few weeks to see the results of B.Ed entrance test for admission in AMU Kishanganj. Till then share your valuable suggestions and feedback on the important issue.