The Anandakrishnan Committee’s recommendation to scrap the TNPCEE, the common entrance test for admission into undergraduate engineering programmes across the State, is disappointing.
I’m not sure how sound the argument that abolishing entrance exams will create a level-playing field for students from rural areas and poor backgrounds. What the proponents of this theory have in mind is doubtful. Do they contend that students from urban areas have easy access to tuition classes that will ease their passage through the entrance tests? If that be the case, shouldn’t the argument extend to preparing for the board exams as well? Alternatively, if paying for the entrance exam is the problem, the Government can consider subsidising the exam fees for students from economically weaker sections.
Doing away with the entrance test will create more problems than they will solve. For one, entrance exams test the student’s grasp, acuity, speed and endurance. In contrast, board exams test the ability to recall and pour out from rote memory. This will have a bearing on the entering class.
Secondly, if the marks secured in the board exams is the criterion for admission, there is a greater probability that many students will end up with the same totals (much more than happens currently). Segregating students with the same totals and similar break-up would be a problem.
But that’s the logistics part. Just the thought of banishing entrance tests sounds stupid to me. Maybe I’m being elitist here; but I’ll live with that tag.
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I was a big beneficiary of entrance test (with a PCM score of 200,193,195 in board). But I feel if the board exams are made more application based (there have been quite a lot of changes in the pattern of 12th board q papers these days, at least in CS I am sure of), I do not feel the need for entrance tests.
The only advantage of having an entrance test can be to reduce the stress of students during the board exams. Other than that if the board exams are made better, it is better for everyone. It will serve your concern of ‘rote memory’ being tested and the policy makers concern of whatever bulls**t.
Guruji, The syllabi and exam pattern which we followed was nothing but pouring out from our memory. But I happened to glance through my Cousin’s Physics/Chemistry Text books a few months ago. They were two parts for each year, and the contents were way ahead than what we learnt in our XI & XII. And the current examination pattern makes problem solving a mandatory one.
I too was a benifited by entrance. Only that gave me a differentiator. And as you said, the logistics part are definitely a problem.
But one thing, its good they are trying to stabilize that at this early stage instead of March 07 for the 2007 Admissions.
And once they enact this a law, the public can challenge the same at the judiciary.
I’ve a strong feeling that they are practicing politics even in this
Welfare of Students –> BullS**t. Entrance Coaching is a wonderful, flourishing industry now in major cities. These is where i would try to play politics if i were a “opportunist” politician.
The entrance exam should be scrapped. Instead, there should be two exams at the higher secondary (HS) level. One will be the higher secondary school leaving certificate (HSLC) exam and the other will be the HSLC (Honours) exam.
While the HSLC exam will be compulsory for all HS students, the HSLC (Honours) will be optional. That is, if a student does not want to appear at the HSLC (Honours) exam, he will have the freedom not to. But he will have to compulsorily appear at the HSLC exam.
Those who do not appear at the Honours exam will not be considered for admission to professional colleges. That is, admission to professional colleges will be based solely on the rank in the Honours exam.
Admission to colleges other than professional, will be on the basis of the rank in the HSLC exam. Even in this case too, there must be a statewide rank-list.
Every higher secondary school will teach and coach, as a matter of routine, students for the honours exam also. This should not involve any extra cost. The fee for HSLC should be enough for the HSLC Honours too.
At the end of the course, the students will themselves decide whether to appear at both the exams (HSLC and HSLC Honours) or whether to appear at HSLC alone.
Appearence at the HSLC Honours should not involve any extra cost. In other words, the exam-fee for HSLC should be sufficient for HSLC Honours exam also.
Valuation of the HSLC Honours exam answer papers should be through scanning of the papers.
The advantages of the above given suggestions are: 1. The HS course will regain its importance. 2. The exploitation by the mushrooming, often dubious, entrance coaching institutions willget drastically reduced. 3. The reach of the Honours will spread to areas where ever HS schools are available and will not be limited (as it is now) to areas where the present entrance-coaching institutions are located. 4. The cost to be borne by students for getting coaching and for appearing at the exam will be minimised 5. More qualified and eligible teachers will get job.