WB government having second thoughts about introducing CET

Updated on: Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Campus showdowns over the proposed Common Entrance Test (CET) for admission to postgraduate studies in Bengal's universities has prompted the Mamata Banerjee government to go slow on admission reforms.

The government is having second thoughts about introducing CET on June 25 this year, though the higher education authorities aren't letting up on the policy framework. The government will table a bill in the assembly , if need be, to make sure that state universities adhere to CET, a higher education official said.

"The government is not in a hurry. It is taking note of the reactions at various levels among the academia, from teachers to students, and is trying its best to arrive at a consensus on CET. Let everyone appreciate the principle of social inclusion instead of opposing a policy framework by raising the university autonomy flag. Opposing CET may sound elitist but it actually promotes mediocrity and social discrimination," said West Bengal Higher Education Council chairman Sugata Marjit.

The government, however, is determined to bring all state universities under the CET policy framework. "We are not going to compel universities to admit students solely on their CET scores," Marjit said.

CET aims at breaking the unannounced reservation of postgraduate seats by universities for their own graduates

Move has met with strong opposition, especially from teachers and students of Jadavpur University

Govt determined to bring all state varsities under CET framework and will table bill in assembly, but is unlikely to implement it this year

West Bengal Higher Education Council chairman Sugata Marjit said, "A student's CET score will comprise 50% of his performance parameters. The rest will be decided by the universities. They may hold interviews or any other procedure they feel fit before the final selection. We want the system to ensure that good students get a chance to switch to universities of their choice that they seldom have under the present system. I see no point in reserving a seat in Jadavpur University for its underperforming alumnus and blocking the lateral entry of bright students from other universities."

The proposed CET aims at breaking the unannounced reservation of postgraduate seats by universities for their own graduates. However, the proposed reform has sparked protests in universities. JU students are opposing it tooth and nail. Even teachers of arts and science have urged the university to take up the matter with the government. "Teachers of all 19 departments have unanimously resolved that the government should put CET on hold for at least a year because JU plans to switch to integrated fiveyear science and arts courses from next year. The course will have exit clause for students and the vacancies will be filled up with due weightage to the CET scores," said JUTA secretary Partha Biswas.

"We leave it to universities to decide their course. But they should also pay heed to the funding authorities. I am not going into the legality. I would like to know whether JU wants to give a chance to a bright English graduate from Burdwan University or keep its doors closed for other universities for the sake of its own students who did not do well in the university examinations. And if they are the best in the state they will do better than others in the CET also. I am not getting the point put across by JU students. If they oppose CET, they should also oppose examinations such as GRE, GMAT and so on," Marjit said.

The council doesn't buy the argument that there is a huge difference in the syllabi followed in state universities.

WB government having second thoughts about introducing CET

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