IB schools' students can take admission in IISERs: Govt

Updated on: Thursday, September 09, 2010

While deciding not to tinker with the existing course pattern of IISER, the Government agreed to open the doors of the premier institutes for students passing out of International Baccalaureate (IB) schools in the country.
   
At the same time, it also decided to set up about five magnet schools in Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) campuses under the aegis of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas to attract the bright minds into the science fold.
   
At a meeting here attended by directors of five institute and chaired by HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, the issue of a separate Act governing IISER had also come up, but Sibal insisted that since the first batch enrolled in these institutes are yet to pass out, a separate act would not be feasible at this moment, said a source.
   
The Government has already introduced a bill in the Parliament to amend the National institute of Technology Act to make the five IISERs statutory bodies and enable them award degrees to students.
   
On the issue of making possible changes in the existing course pattern such as a 4+1+1.5 year which would also include the period of obtaining a Ph.D degree, the source said there was no "unanimity" on it.
   
The proposal was moved by one of the IISER directors but it was suggested that the existing course pattern should not be tinkered with, though Sibal emphasised the need for "accelerating the years taken to obtain the PhD".
   
The meeting also agreed to have mobile science labs in these institutes which would move from place to place popularising science and instilling scientific temper among the students.
   
IISERs, set up to promote education and research in science, are present in the cities of Mohali, Kolkata, Bhopal, Pune and Thiruvanantapuram.
   
The source said students passing out of IBs can now seek admission in IISERs like students of other boards and that a "system of equivalence" will be put in place to make it possible.
   
At present there are about 72 IBs across the country, 68 of which offer diploma programmes equivalent to plus two stage of CBSE.
   
Students qualifying in IIT-JEE, the toppers of the state boards and central board like CBSE are eligible for admission to such institutes.
   
The meeting also agreed to foster research collaborations between IISER and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.

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