Students' present their agenda to Kalmadi, DSK

PUNE: Setting up a data bank on the education sector, a helpline centre in every district and appointing a commission to study the need for so many entrance examinations are among the recommendations that student organisations have asked Congress candidate Suresh Kalmadi and BSP candidate DS Kulkarni to include in their agenda for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
A statement released by Fuel', a non-governmental organisation represented by various college representatives from the city, says the organisation has presented a report on student-related issues and recommendations' to the two candidates.
Fuel works towards educational awareness and prepared the report after conducting a survey among 50,000 students in the state.
Ketan Deshpande, chairman, Fuel said, "The idea behind giving this report and recommendations was to make the candidates aware of the issues related to the youth and suggest that the youth are not only important for voting, but also for policy-making in the country."
The report mentions the main difficulties faced by students, including lack of awareness about educational information, the complex system of admission, high exam fees and the lack of hostel facilities.
According to Shashank Lunkad, a student from Modern College, "We will present this report by hand or by e-mail to all the candidates standing for elections in the city."
Because of the multiple entrance examinations that students have to appear for each year for admission to higher education, the NGO has recommended that a commission be appointed to study whether there really is a need for so many entrance exams to be conducted at the national as well as the institute level.
"We are glad to learn that our issues will now be heard and hopefully the candidates will take cognisance and create a different perspective for the youth," said Rahul Bedmutha from Pune Vidyarthi Griha College.