Vijayawada: The admission cycle for higher education courses in Andhra Pradesh is stretching into Aug and Sep, raising concerns over a delayed start to the academic year and disruption of the semester schedule. Several entrance examinations and their results were completed months ago, but counselling and admissions for different courses are still progressing, leaving students uncertain about when their classes will begin.
The admission process has followed a staggered timeline this year. AP ECET was conducted on April 23, with results announced on May 7, while AP ICET was held on May 2, with results declared on May 16. AP LAWCET/PGLCET examinations were conducted on May 4, and results were announced on May 18. AP EdCET was held on May 8, and results were declared on May 26, while AP PGCET was conducted from May 8 to 11. Despite the completion of these entrance examinations and the declaration of results, the subsequent admission process for several streams has continued into the later part of the academic year.
The delay is also evident in engineering and degree admissions. AP EAPCET results were announced on July 1, while engineering counselling and seat allotment have extended into Aug. Degree admissions through OAMDC also began only in Aug, further pushing the commencement of classes for students entering degree colleges.
ABVP state secretary Yaganti Venkata Gopi said the situation was disrupting the academic calendar and causing uncertainty among students. He said that unlike a regular academic cycle, where the admission process would be completed earlier and classes could commence on time, students are now waiting until Aug and Sep to join some courses. This, he said, would subsequently affect the first-semester schedule and examinations.
Gopi also said the delay was making some students consider institutions in other states rather than wait for the admission process to conclude in Andhra Pradesh. He said the government should complete pending counselling and admissions at the earliest and ensure a proper academic calendar so that students get adequate teaching time before semester examinations.
The delay has raised questions over how universities and colleges will adjust their teaching and examination schedules once admissions are completed, particularly for students who join courses several months after the expected start of the academic year.
