Context
In line with the National Education Policy, government has decided to conduct Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for admission in the Under Graduate programs of all UGC-funded Central Universities (CU).
Relevance
GS-II: Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Dimensions of the Article
- About CUET
- Advantages of CUET
- Disadvantages of CUET
- Way Forward
About CUET
- Proposed CUET to be conducted in 13 languages, seeks to make it mandatory for 45 CU’s to conduct admissions using a single national level test score.
- To begin from 2022-2023.
- To be conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA).
Advantages of CUET
- Would spare aspirants from multiple examinations.
- Eliminates advantages of disproportionate scores of Class XII.
- All Institutions are free to use the scores of CUET which means Private Universities would also come under its umbrella.
- Weightage of Class XII scores too can be added apart from CUET scores which strikes a balance.
Disadvantages of CUET
- Test is based on NCERT Syllabus which puts students from Vernacular Boards at a disadvantage.
- CoVID-19 has disrupted the learning potential of students who may find it difficult to adapt to a new exam.
- North East students have concerned where they won’t be allotted admissions in their regional universities.
- Coaching Industry will flourish with a single exam.
Way Forward
Madhuri R Shah Committee looked into functioning of the CUs and recommended a National merit based examination as early as 1984. However, country still lacks in providing entry-level higher education and bridging the gender and economic gaps. It needs to be examines if such a step of a single exam is pragmatic and beneficial. Idea is worth considering after addressing the challenges.
Source – The Hindu
