CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH CENTRALIZED ADMISSION PROCESS FACED BY FEMALE HIGHER SECONDARY COLLEGE STUDENTS. A CASE STUDY

Abstract

The current education system in Pakistan is rooted in the colonial era, with a centralized structure inherited from British India. While there have been some reforms and changes over the years, the system has remained largely unchanged since the country’s independence in 1947. SECCAP, the Sindh Electronic Centralized College Admission Program implements the Centralized Admission Process (CAP) for Intermediate colleges in Sindh (SECCAP, 2022). The aim of this study is to gather insights from students to understand their perspectives on the effectiveness of CAP, and to explore insights from students to understand its benefits or challenges. This research opts for a qualitative and phenomenological study design due to the nature of the research objectives. The population under consideration for this study comprises students who enrolled in Intermediate (11th grade) using CAP in Govt. college. The sample selected for this study involved twenty-five 11th-grade students who have undergone the Intermediate admissions process via CAP. This research has embarked on a comprehensive exploration of the CAP in Pakistan, with a specific lens on the challenges faced by female HSC students. As we delve into the three key themes Challenges with the CAP, Gender-related Challenges, and Suggestions of improvement. The student-led recommendations for CAP system in Pakistan echo a collective call for transformative improvements. Students emphasize the urgency of enhancing the CAP app’s speed and use–friendliness, ensuring it caters to diverse tech skill levels. Future study can be a longitudinal study tracking the experiences of students over multiple academic cycles could provide insight into the long-term impact of CAP on their educational trajectories.