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| Thursday, Dec 07, 2006
Common Entrance Test abolished in Tamil Nadu
Assembly adopts Bill by voice vote
Chennai: The Common Entrance Test for admission to professional
courses in the State has been abolished.
A Bill to do away with the CET was passed in the Assembly on
Wednesday by a voice vote.
Minister for Higher Education K. Ponmudi said in-built safeguards
had been provided in the Bill to overcome any legal impediment
against the abolition. After getting the President's assent,
the Government would take steps to implement the decision from
the next academic year.
Level playing field
Mr. Ponmudi said the abolition was necessary to provide a level
playing field to students from rural areas and poor families,
and those from urban areas.
Mr. Ponmudi said the abolition was necessary to provide a level
playing field to students from rural areas and poor families,
and those from urban areas.
He said it was widely believed that the CET was a traumatic
experience for students and their parents, as it sought to determine
their future at one stroke. Moreover, students from rural areas
had no access to CET coaching classes as they were not available
in their locality and also because they could not afford it.
As the higher secondary examination (plus two) itself was a
serious examination of merit, imposing a heavy burden on students,
there was no need for any separate common entrance test, which
was an "additional burden".
Mr. Ponmudi said the decision was based on recommendations made
by a committee of educational experts, set up by the Government
under the chairmanship of M.Anandakrishnan, former Vice-Chancellor
of Anna University.
The committee, in its report, had suggested that the Government
should undertake immediate steps to eliminate CET and pass a
Bill in the Assembly indicating the need for the elimination
in the interest of social justice and protection of vulnerable
population.
The Bill should explicitly propose the normalisation process
suggested by the committee for ensuring equality of opportunity
for admission to students from different streams.
Normalisation
The Minister said the normalisation process suggested by the
panel was on the lines of the one being adopted by the Birla
Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, for admitting
students. The Supreme Court had accepted the concept. He termed
the separate quota for students from different streams suggested
by members impractical. It would only invite legal problems.
The Minister said any complaint of admission of students in
unaided professional colleges, made in violation of the provisions
of the Bill, would be dealt with seriously. If the complaint
were found true fine up to Rs. 5 lakh would be levied. The Government
might also recommend withdrawal of affiliation of the institution
to the university concerned.
Courtesy: The Hindu
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