If a progress graph for National Eligibility and Entrance Examination (NEET) is to be prepared, the up and downs will balance out. The national level medical exam has been surrounded by controversies since it was first introduced but the purpose for which it was instigated has been achieved. At least to some extent. Looking at the bright side of the graph, Union Human Resources Development Ministry has proposed a NEET like common entrance examination for engineering admission.
So far, the undergraduate and postgraduate engineering admissions in India are granted on the basis of national level exams, like JEE Main, JEE Advanced, etc, or state level exams, like UPSEE, KEAM, KCET, COMEDK etc., or University level exams, like BITSAT, SRMJEEE, VITEEE, etc. However, the proposed plan by the ministry will eliminate all the examination and admission will only be done through a single window only.
All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) proposed the notion of common entrance test more than two years back but was waiting for a nod from the Center and the states. Now, after the ministry put the proposal on tha table, AICTE wasted no time in seeking state’s opinion.
As per the news report of Times of India, from the state of Kerala AICTE receive a welcoming response. Usha Titus, the principal secretary of higher education in the state, said that they agree to the idea of single entrance exam for engineering admission. She also added that the state is not averse to a NEET model but it should be organized flawlessly so that the students are not at loss.
MP Poonia, Vice-Chairman of AICTE, told that the Council is keen to bring in common engineering entrance test from the year 2019. However, despite the approval, the state does not find it feasible to introduce the common entrance test from the year 2019. The state also added that it will take at least a couple of years to fructify the idea.
Kerala Self-Financing Engineering College Managements’ Association has also given green signal to common entrance test. It believes that:
a common entrance exam will bring out a sort of branding for the engineering colleges and would improve the quality of education. Many grey areas with regard to the total number of seats in deemed universites will also be clear.
The stakeholders have also pointed out that though AICTE speaks highly of the common entrance examination, it maintained silence about it in the handbook. The Council should have laid down these factors while preparing the handbook. Also, the reasons due to which the idea has not been implemented for past two years still prevails. The most important factor is that the syllabus of all the state education board is not the same and this might cause a problem for the state board students.
State of Tamil Nadu opposed the idea for NEET strongly. The opinions of the state for the single entrance test for engineering are yet to be revealed. The Centre will also have to approve the idea only then it will come to life.
The engineering admission 2018 are not over yet, however, much hullabaloo has been done already. Parallel to common entrance test, the talk of national level engineering admission begin conducted by NTA has also been confirmed. NTA is expected to conduct the exam only in online mode, and multiple times a year.
Only time will tell what lies ahead. The students are advised not be bugged up by all the plans that the authority is making and only concentrate on preparation. No matter what will happen, if you are prepared then you will win for sure. But if you like, then do share your view on the matter. Do you think a common entrance exam for engineering is a good idea?
