What is Merit System?
Merit system the process of offering admissions to the students in schools, colleges, and even coaching centers. A student’s performance in academics or entrance tests determines their chances of getting in a prestigious colleges of their choice.
This system works in a way such that each and every student can be treated fairly without any discrepancy. The merit system has become staple in India and the world across institutions. Academic performers will bring glorious results which eventually will increase further bring prestige to the institute. The primary purpose of this system should be to treat everyone equally to eliminate negativity, conflicts, and illegal ways of admission.
Online admissions has helped effectively in leveraging merit system. For example, the process is online most colleges now to avoid discrepancies and unfair practices.
How do admissions work under merit system?
Admissions work under system in the following manner-
- First of all students register themselves either through online or offline mode. They have to mention their previous academic performance and list names of institutes as per their interest.
- After all the registrations are and registration process is closed, the system filters the applications based on the criteria and then allot institutes to each student for further admission procedure.
- Students receive the acknowledgment of their allotted institute, get their documents verified and take admissions.
This process does not concern any human intervention and is thus, completely transparent.
Pros & Cons of the Indian merit system:
Pros-
- Reduces the need of paperwork due to online procedures.
- Students don’t have to wait for a longer time, stand in queues for documents submission or for getting their doubts solved.
- Data gets filtered hence it is 100% authentic and no student can be cheated which is the biggest advantage of the merit system.
- It ensures the selection of deserving candidates and hence very accurate and reliable in nature.
- Entrance exams help students assess themselves so that they can focus on their strategy and improve it to give more effective results.
- Students can get scholarships and can complete their education in top institutes, regardless of their financial background.
- It motivates all students to study hard, perform well academically and get admission in the institute of their choice.
Cons-
- The biggest disadvantage is that it creates peer pressure among the students which results in negative outcomes most of the times and lead to stress for the students.
- Students have no chance to upgrade themselves and they move toward getting admission through other illegal ways and it encourages corruption.
- Lives of students become focused on academic excellence and they lose track of other aspects of life.
How it is affecting students?
Just like two facets of coin, the merit system of admissions have positive as well as negative effects both. Though positive effects are more and on tweaking the system, we can completely eliminate all the negative ones. The merit system aims to make the whole process of admissions more easy, convenient and efficient. It allows all students equal opportunities to get into institutes of their choice.
