Preparatory course to be next casualty

AHMEDABAD: Apart from causing uncertainty among students, a further delay in the admission list at IIMs will affect candidates from economically and socially backward classes, as the IIMs may call off or reschedule the preparatory programme for these students.

The preparatory programme is held to coach the students who are weak in certain areas. At IIM-Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Lucknow, the preparatory programme starts almost 15-30 days prior to the PGP programme. IIM-Calcutta holds it concurrently with the PGP programme.

The IIMs were to come up with the first list on April 21.

But in the wake of the Supreme Court order, the IIM directors are meeting on Friday to consider a decision to postpone this, say sources. IIM Ahmedabad is planning to waive its one-month training programme that starts by the end of May. “After the announcement of admission list, the offers are accepted in three weeks, and another three weeks are spent in the preparatory programme for weak students. But due to delay this time, the institute might have to drop this programme,” said a source at the IIM Ahmedabad.

IIM Lucknow begins the preparatory programme 15-20 days prior to the main PGP programme. It is expected that either the institute might have to hold it concurrently or drop the programme. “The academic calendar is all drawn out. But we will ensure that the students’ interest are not affected,” said IIM-Lucknow director Devi Singh.