States prefer common entrance test for IITs
by Pallavi Polanki Jun 5, 2012
The state education ministers have put their collective weight behind a common entrance test for centrally funded technical institutes that includes the IITs.
The state education minister’s conference held in the capital today also saw the states broadly agree to the ‘one nation, one test’ plan.
The ‘special treatment’ to IITs — that have been allowed to hold a second advance test after filtering students who appear for the common entrance — came in for some strong criticism from the Bihar education minister Prashant Kumar Shahi.
Kapil Sibal at the conference with state education ministers. Firstpost/Naresh Sharma
“In the last meeting, we endorsed the initiative by the HRD ministry on the supposition that IITs will also be part of the exercise. We now learn that IITs have a chosen to adopt a differ mode altogether.
Should the policy of the nation be left to be decided by the IITs? Why should IITs take a different course. After all, we are talking about the nation. I find it objectionable that five or six institutes should decide a different course of action,” said Shahi.
To which Sibal, springing another surprise, replied, “IITs have said that by 2015 they will also come on board. They want a two-year transition.”
While the decision over the common entrance test for centrally-funded technical institutes — IITs, NITs and IIITs — was a sealed deal, the state education ministers—going by Sibal’s concluding remarks—also broadly agreed to the ‘one nation one test’ plan, which means there will be one entrance for all engineering colleges (not just centrally-funded ones) across the country.
None of the state education ministers raised objections when Sibal said, “Do I then take it that there is a broad agreement that this should be moved forward and that the state governments will move forward.”
Concluding the session, the Union HRD minister said, “I take it that all state governments are on board. I deeply appreciate your support.”
The two issues that remained to be addressed by each state, added Sibal, was weightage to be given to the state board (the minimum weightage is 40 percent) and the year in which the common entrance would be introduced.
The state education ministers who endorsed ‘one nation, one test’ said the move would raise the profile of the state board, increase opportunities for students, relieve students from capitation fees and reduce their dependence on the coaching classes.
From the land of Kota — which synonymous with the IIT coaching industry — Rajasthan Secondary Education Minister Brij Lal Kishore who attended the conference gave the ‘one nation, one test’ the thumbs up.
“Students from villages who cannot afford capitation fee will benefit from this. If there is one examination, there will be less pressure on students. Also, with this system a state board topper will be considered on par with the CBSE topper. Everyone will get a fair chance. The state government definitely stands to benefit from this.”
He did not whether the common entrance test will be implemented in 2013 or later.
Backing Sibal, Assam state education minister Hemanta Biswa Sarma said, “All states have wholeheartedly supported the idea. This move will see the coaching centre business will gradually come down and students going back to the classroom. This is a welcome decision.”
Asked when state plans to opt for the common entrance test, Sarma said, “As far as our state is concerned, we will start from 2014. We need to inform the students. Our board results are announced in June and so we will need to streamline the board system so that results are announced before April.”
Modi’s government too has endorsed the common engineering entrance test. The state’s education minister Ramanlal Vora said a common test will benefit the state.
“Our demand is that the entrance test should also be available in Gujarati language. If this demand is met, we will adopt the common entrance test.”
On the benefits of such a system, Vora said, “If there a single national test, a student from Gujarat in addition to his own state can also apply to any engineering college across India. The opportunities for students will increase.”
Kerala’s education minister, however, was not as forthcoming.
Underlining the need for more discussion, he said, “As far as the common entrance test for centrally-funded institutions, there is no objection. But as for institutions in Kerala, no decision has been taken. We need to have more discussions.”
