Books and pens: Online admission system gains momentum

Over 22,000 students apply through official website in 2016

PESHAWAR: The online admission system of the provincial government is becoming rather popular as 22,685 students have applied to various government colleges through it.

The K-P Science and Technology and Information Technology Department introduced the system for students to apply for admissions in government colleges at the intermediate level. However, it initially received a cold response. The department officials dealing with the system said it has all of a sudden gained mass appeal in 2016.

“The number of applicants seeking admission shows the system’s popularity,” said Directorate of Information Technology Assistant Director Akif Khan. “We started from Government Superior Science College Peshawar and the institute adopted it completely. This year, all government colleges were included in the system and the staff has been trained on its workings.”

He said the aim was to facilitate students and their parents using IT. “They need not to wait in long queues to apply and submit admission forms,” he said.

This year, 22,685 students applied for admissions through the system up until July 3 and the figure was increasing up to the last date for admission. As per figures provided by the directorate of IT, colleges verified 4,591 applications of the total 22,685 submitted online.

Students applying for admission at a government college have to visit www.admission.hed.gkp.pk and create their own account. Subsequently, they have to follow a step-by-step procedure by entering their personal and academic information.

“The system has been introduced at all examination boards and government colleges,” he explained.  “The web portal verifies students’ documents from the examination board and provides a complete admission form for the applicant.”

It also gives options of disciplines based on the student’s background, thus leaving few chances of mistakes in selection of proper disciplines.

“For example, a student with an arts background will not be shown options to choose science subjects for admission,” he said.

Akif added the system also has options for students applying for quotas.

Each applicant gets his or her own tracking ID through which they can login into the system and check merit lists.

“We are working to add an SMS system to provide information to applicants on the merit lists and admission,” he said.

The student, after filling the form and submitting it to the college, can print bank vouchers given in the online form to submit for the college prospectus. The fee for this is Rs100. The bank voucher has three copies — one each for the student, bank and the college. The college copy has to be sent to the institute through a courier or delivered by hand.

“Since the e-payment system in Pakistan has not properly started working yet, the students have to visit banks to submit the Rs100 fee.” Once they submit the fee and send a copy of the bank receipt to the college, the form gets completed and colleges include their names in the merit list. The student has to take his or her original documents on the day of the college interview.

IT Directorate Director Bilal Jabbar said the system is a part of the K-P government e-governance reforms initiatives. “We are extending the system to universities to facilitate people,” he said. The director called it a joint venture with the higher education department.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2016.