Delhi Schools Extend Baseline Assessment Deadline; DU Colleges Pivot to Board-Mark Admissions

NEW DELHI: As academic institutions across the capital navigate evolving administrative mandates, two significant developments have emerged affecting both school-level diagnostic testing and higher education admissions.

Extension for Baseline Assessments

School authorities have been granted a window to wrap up pending diagnostic evaluations. Students who were unable to attend the baseline assessment on the originally scheduled date have been given a grace period to complete the test by September 5.

In an official notification, the education department has placed the onus on Heads of Schools (HoS) to maximize student participation. The directive mandates that the assessment be completed within this extended timeline, emphasizing the need for trained teachers to oversee the process.

“The OMR sheets of such students shall be completed and incorporated in the respective class-wise packets after the assessment,” the circular stated. HoS have been tasked with the end-to-end management of the process, including the rigorous verification of OMR data and ensuring the secure packaging and submission of testing materials.

Shift in Delhi University Admissions

Meanwhile, at the higher education level, several Delhi University (DU) colleges are shifting their strategy to fill vacant undergraduate seats. Following the conclusion of the primary Common University Entrance Test (CUET) admission cycles, multiple institutions have reverted to offering admissions based on Class 12 board examination marks.

The latest wave of institutions adopting this approach includes Shyam Lal College, Zakir Husain Delhi College (Evening), Kalindi College, Lakshmibai College, PGDAV College, Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce, and Vivekanand College.

These institutions join a growing list that already includes Aditi Mahavidyalaya, Bhagini Nivedita College, and Rajdhani College. While the move is intended to ensure that seats do not remain vacant, it has sparked considerable debate within academic circles. Faculty members have expressed concern over the inconsistency in admission criteria, questioning the return to board-mark-based merit lists after the significant rollout of the CUET framework.

As these institutions attempt to stabilize their enrollment numbers, the dual pressure of school-level compliance and university-level admission policy shifts remains a primary focus for the Delhi education sector.