Now NITs start entrance reform process to curb coaching schools

Updated on: Friday, October 23, 2009

New Delhi: The war on coaching schools seems to be in full swing. As part of the crackdown on coaching schools, the National Institutes of Technology Council (NITC) has decided to reform its entrance examination system. NITs admit students on the basis of the All India Engineering Entrance Exam (AIEEE) conducted by CBSE. A committee has been formed to suggest reforms in the examination system.

NIT directors said they would like to consider making class XII examination more relevant to the admission process. NITs were earlier known as Regional Engineering Colleges (RECs), and admission was undertaken on the basis of the class XII results.

Some NIT directors said under the older system they were able to attract a better quality of students. Echoing the IIT argument, NIT Council felt coaching institutes had killed students’ initiative. The focus being on “cracking the exam” rather than showing aptitude. The council was of the view that proliferation of coaching schools had skewed the pattern of students being admitted to NITs. In this context, the committee will consider the possibility of giving weightage to class XII examination results.

The committee looking into the issue of entrance examination reform comprises NIT directors from Allahabad, Calicut and Agartala. They will submit the report by January. Besides reviewing the examination structure, the committee will look at the possibility of online exam, in addition to the regular pen and paper test being conducted at present.

Another task before this committee is to look into the problem of seats staying vacant across NITs despite several rounds of counselling. This would require assessing the relevance of the courses and alternatives would be suggested by the committee — ascertaining the market relevance of courses that have failed to attract students.

A second committee, which will look into the curriculum framework, is also being set up. Courses will be revised in accordance with the current needs of industry and market as well as the future needs. This committee will comprise NIT directors from Thrichy, Surathkal, and Warrangal. As part of its mandate, the committee will interact with industry to assess its requirements. This will ensure that students have the best possible job prospect.

To ensure that NITs step out of the shadow of IITs, HRD minister Kapil Sibal has asked the 20 NITs to give a vision statement. These would be discussed in the next meeting of the NIT Council. Sibal asked NITs to show, in their vision statement, how they could build their brand to attract talent from within the country and abroad. The vision could also include whether they would like to set up campuses abroad.

Sibal said requirement for professional courses, graduate programmes will increase in future. The vision document thus should show how NITs propose to expand. He also exhorted NITs to charter a unique ecosystem for themselves and focus on greater research and doctoral & post-doctoral works.

Sibal agreed to the NITs’ request to be able to deviate from the grade pay suggested by the government. This will be possible under exceptional circumstances, and with the approval of the Board of Governors of NITs. Norms will have to be formulated by NITs on when such exceptions can be made.

The council also unanimously approved setting up of a standing committee to study various proposals and suggestions that are received. The council authorised chairman and vice-chairman to constitute this committee. As HRD minister, Sibal is chairman of the council.

Wednesday’s meeting was the first meeting of NIT Council. The minister stressed that he would like the council to meet every six months. As with IITs, NITs will also be provided with 1 Gbps of connectivity and the performance-related incentive system would be applicable to these institutes too.

Now NITs start entrance reform process to curb coaching schools

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