For engineering students in Andhra Pradesh who found themselves outside the seats available in the first two rounds of AP EAPCET 2023 (Andhra Pradesh Engineering Agricultural and Pharmacy Common Entrance Test), their hopes and dreams now hang in the balance. These students, along with those who secured seats but yearned for more favourable branches and prestigious colleges, eagerly anticipate the elusive third round of counselling.
In their pursuit of answers and action, student unions have repeatedly approached the authorities. Their appeals even reached the ears of the Minister for Education, Botcha Satyanarayana, who assured them that the eagerly anticipated third counselling round would soon become a reality.
Nonetheless, in an interview with TNIE, Professor K Hemachandra Reddy, the Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE), revealed that they have formally requested government permission to conduct a third round of counselling exclusively for students who remained seatless after the initial two rounds.
Reflecting on the previous year’s experience, Professor Hemachandra Reddy stated, “In 2022, we did hold a third counselling session following the appeals of student unions and parents. However, only 312 candidates availed this opportunity, despite the considerable efforts the government invested in organizing it.”
M Sai Krishna, the National Vice President and State President of the All India Students Union, passionately advocated for a broader third-round counselling, saying, “I implore the government to conduct a third round for all students. Otherwise, there’s a risk that better-ranked students might lose out on coveted colleges or preferred branches. Our concern is the potential mental impact on students striving for a brighter future.”
One student, Vadapalli Venkateswara Sai Prasad from Vijayawada, who secured a rank of 20,906 in AP EAPCET 2023, shared his disappointment with his current college allocation. He expressed, “I obtained a college in Tirupati during the second phase, but I encountered several issues. There was no hostel, so I had to opt for a PG accommodation, and the labs and workshops were consistently off schedule. Despite my higher rank, I felt frustrated and sought a change in the next counselling round.” Notably, classes had already commenced on August 31.
The fate of these engineering aspirants remains uncertain as they await the crucial decision on whether the third round of counselling will indeed take place and whether it will be extended to all students. The stakes are high, and the impact on these students’ academic and prospects is a pressing concern that needs to be addressed.
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