Affirmative action, quota system, equal opportunity are useful policy measures that, if applied transparently and with a pure motive, serve many positive ends including a sense of belonging and national unity. If abused, especially in respect of sacrificing merit for mediocrity, it discourages, even punishes, hard work and rewards laziness. The admission scores for the Unity Schools is an embarrassing example of a quota system most abused. xThe so-called educationally disadvantaged states should be ashamed that nearly 30 years of affirmative action has failed to deliver them out of this unenviable classification. In a federation of states, it even defies common sense to centralise admission into higher institutions.

Source: The Guardian November 23, 2020 03:21 UTC