Whispers Forum — 2 Nov 2020
DEBATE (1)
IFS Ministers look graceful but IAS will always remain supreme in this country.
R P Verma
Entrance Examinations
The results of entrance examinations like IIT-JEE main and advanced, NEET2020 for admissions to medical and dental courses have been announced. The results have no doubt made a minority of students and their parents very happy but would have left a large majority shattered and perhaps poorer by a few lacs of rupees. Many coaching centers all over the country are releasing front page ads with photos of their students who have secured top ranks. Certainly felicitations are due to these children.
However, time has come to review the efficacy of these entrance tests. They seem to test only the memory and not the aptitude of the students to pursue such courses. Also very large number of children who cannot afford the high fees charged by the coaching centers or live far away from them are totally denied the opportunity to try their chances. Due to policy of reservation many high scoring children will not be able to gain entry to courses and institutions of their choice, especially Government institutes, And they will not be able to afford the very high fees charged by private institutes, especially in the medical field. Here is a suggestion to cut through all this. Scrap all the entrance tests. Admit all eligible students to courses and institutes of their choice by a computer-run lottery system, keeping of course reservation policy etc. This will at least give an equal and fair chance to every student. No need to attend coaching classes.
Once admitted, treat the first year as a foundation programme and the Institutes should conduct basic courses to bring all the students on par. Children should be regularly assessed through tests, exams etc. and fairly high qualifying levels should be set including for regular attendance. Children not having the aptitude or application should be asked to leave which they may willingly do once they realise that their interests could be elsewhere. Parents also will reconcile to the reality and won’t pressure their children unnecessarily. The remaining ones can pursue the programme. This arrangement will be fair to all aspirants, rich and poor, from urban or rural areas.
S.Raghavan
IFS Ministers look graceful but IAS will always remain supreme in this country.
R P Verma
Entrance Examinations
The results of entrance examinations like IIT-JEE main and advanced, NEET2020 for admissions to medical and dental courses have been announced. The results have no doubt made a minority of students and their parents very happy but would have left a large majority shattered and perhaps poorer by a few lacs of rupees. Many coaching centers all over the country are releasing front page ads with photos of their students who have secured top ranks. Certainly felicitations are due to these children.
However, time has come to review the efficacy of these entrance tests. They seem to test only the memory and not the aptitude of the students to pursue such courses. Also very large number of children who cannot afford the high fees charged by the coaching centers or live far away from them are totally denied the opportunity to try their chances. Due to policy of reservation many high scoring children will not be able to gain entry to courses and institutions of their choice, especially Government institutes, And they will not be able to afford the very high fees charged by private institutes, especially in the medical field. Here is a suggestion to cut through all this. Scrap all the entrance tests. Admit all eligible students to courses and institutes of their choice by a computer-run lottery system, keeping of course reservation policy etc. This will at least give an equal and fair chance to every student. No need to attend coaching classes.
Once admitted, treat the first year as a foundation programme and the Institutes should conduct basic courses to bring all the students on par. Children should be regularly assessed through tests, exams etc. and fairly high qualifying levels should be set including for regular attendance. Children not having the aptitude or application should be asked to leave which they may willingly do once they realise that their interests could be elsewhere. Parents also will reconcile to the reality and won’t pressure their children unnecessarily. The remaining ones can pursue the programme. This arrangement will be fair to all aspirants, rich and poor, from urban or rural areas.
S.Raghavan
