Loreto College in Kolkata faced outrage and protests for a discriminatory UG admission policy that excluded students from vernacular schools following which, they revoked it.
Amid widespread outrage and protests, Loreto College in Kolkata has taken a U-turn on its admission policy that barred students from schools teaching in Bengali and other vernacular languages from seeking admission to undergraduate courses.
The college faced severe criticism for its discriminatory stance, which led to a rally by the fringe outfit Bangla Pokkho outside the college premises. Calcutta University registrar, Debasis Das, clarified that affiliated colleges are not permitted to implement such biased rules.
Following the backlash, Loreto College issued an unconditional apology and swiftly revoked the admission policy, acknowledging that it did not align with their cherished values.
OUTRAGE OVER DISCRIMINATORY POLICY
The controversy erupted when Loreto College released its first merit list for admission to BA and BSc honours programmes, excluding students whose medium of instruction in Class 12 was vernacular.
This move sparked outrage among students and the public, who condemned it as discriminatory and against the principles of equality and inclusivity.
APOLOGY FROM COLLEGE
In response to the uproar, Calcutta University summoned the representatives of Loreto College to address the issue. Meanwhile, Loreto College issued an official apology and announced the immediate revocation of the admission policy.
The college emphasised its rich legacy of serving the community and providing a comprehensive education for over a century in Bengal. It described the admission policy notice as an "unintended error" and assured the public that steps were being taken to rectify the situation.
"Loreto College, Kolkata unconditionally apologises to the people of Bengal and revokes the said admission policy noti ce with immediate effect," it said in a statement.
"Loreto College, Kolkata, has a rich legacy of service and all-round education for over 100 years in Bengal. The recent admission policy notice does not reflect the values we cherish," it added.
LOOKING AHEAD
With the language bar now removed, Loreto College aims to rebuild trust and ensure equal opportunities for students seeking admission to their undergraduate programmes.
The college has issued a fresh notice to prospective applicants, signaling its commitment to upholding the values of inclusivity and diversity.
Loreto College principal Sister Christine Coutinho told PTI, "We have issued a fresh notice and I don't want to say anything more on the issue."
Comentários