The college’s language bar has been called out for “blatant discrimination,” with many social media users opining that the announcement was “elitist” and “anti-Bengali.”
Days after the premier institute came under fire for denying admissions to students from schools where the medium of instruction was Bengali or other regional languages, Loreto College, Kolkata, has issued an apology and rescinded the rule.
The big point: As admissions to undergraduate courses were opened in West Bengal on July 1, Loreto College had stated in its notice that its medium of instruction is “ONLY English” and that applicants from Bengali medium schools will not be considered for admission. As criticism over the rule poured in, the college on Tuesday issued a fresh statement, calling the policy an “unintended error.”
What the admissions notice said: “Examinations will have to be answered ONLY in English. Our reputed Open Shelf Library has only English reference/textbooks and journals for all subjects other than vernacular Bengali and Hindi,” the women’s college had previously said.
“From previous experience, we strongly recommend that candidates hailing from vernacular medium schools opt to study in institutions where the medium of instruction is bilingual. Students whose medium of instruction in Class XlI was vernacular have not been considered for admission.”
The backlash: The college’s language bar has been called out for “blatant discrimination,” with many social media users opining that the announcement was “elitist” and “anti-Bengali.” Pro-Bengali advocacy outfit Bangla Pokkho had held a rally outside the college to protest against the move.
The revocation: Three days after its initial circular, Loreto College issued an unconditional apology for the “unintended error” and rolled back the policy with immediate effect.
“Loreto College has a rich legacy of service and all-around education for over 100 years in Bengal. The recent admission policy notice does not reflect the values we cherish… We recommit ourselves to serving all of Bengal as we have always done,” it stated.
