The
common entrance tests (CET) measure the performance of students for admission to a
degree. This degree is related to professional degree in technology, medical,
law, business administration and also social sciences. The performance
in these exams is more related to suitability of students for a particular
course than just a mere test of scholastic aptitude. This is unlike those
exams where the aptitude for scholastic is measured. Rather it is based on objective knowledge related to a particular stream or specialized body of
knowledge. In foreign countries this is comparable to the GMAT and GRE exams
but not comparable in terms of metal endurance required for the latter exams.
The pattern of these exams is framed in such a manner that it
measures the objective knowledge of a student in all departments of the subject
concerned. In our country the ministry
of HRD which is the apex body for making policies related to education and
formation of committees has not done any review regarding the content criteria
of these exams. Rather the same format of tests gets repeated year after year.
Due to these repetitive formats many students who are not so suitable for a
particular stream may also get selected as they have already mastered the
format of these exams as per the questions set. This poses a problem related to
quality of students getting selected in these courses and the validity of such
exams to judge academic rigour.
This gets reflected in the overall pass percentage of the
class or batch of students and also on the quality of projects done in these professional
courses. Over periods of ten to twelve years the standards of CET exams have been
deteriorating and students today are not much interested in appearing for CET’s
unless it’s being organized by the CBSE or any other centrally administered
educational testing services.
Taking for example the Karnataka CET which is held every
year for admission to professional courses like Medicine, Dentistry,
Agriculture, Law, Engineering and many other vocational courses in various
state and private colleges in the state of Karnataka the data released shows
that the number of applications received is high but the number of examinees appearing
in the exam is not comparable to the number of applications received for these
courses. This shows that people are not interested to appear for these exams.
Moreover the spurt of private medical colleges, engineering
colleges, dental colleges, management institutions have put up a non pleasant
picture like the course curriculum is not updated or revised since a long time.
This makes the syllabus obsolete and also the quality of teaching goes down. In
many such institutions the colleges want to recruit staff at least cost and
without much attention to quality of teaching. Initial approval of AICTE does
not benefit much as they are not matching the benchmark of standards that is
set by the AICTE or NAAC star rating. Many colleges even misguide public on
their star ratings given National Assessment and Accreditation Council.
In state run
institutions there is shortage of proper infrastructure like lack of tables and
chairs, desks, libraries most of the times they do not have sufficient books,
lack of ceiling fans or water coolers in classrooms. It becomes a very difficult and stressful time
for students studying in these circumstances. Karnataka CET gets low response
for its admission advertisements nowadays and this may reduce even further if
review of examination pattern along with a review of institutions is not done
urgently.
The intuitions are part of the entire admission process and
if they are not valid to stand by then what’s
the essence of these exams?
In contrast the Maharashtra CET is scoring high on all
grounds due to high initiative of the state govt regarding the growth and
development of student culture in the state and this has resulted in Maharashtra
being the Number one choice of students for higher education in India. The
institutions whether they state run or private trusts are offering superior quality
in education and content and its dissemination. Thus it shows that the CET
culture is lacking behind in Karnataka due to the apathy of state govt and its
department.
As mentioned earlier the GRE AND GMAT exams which are
conducted by ETS or educational testing services worldwide is remarkably well administered through a
series of computer based tests and its reviews of exam patterns keep changing
year after year. This adds to the variability of these tests as tests to judge aptitude
strength and mental endurance. The ETS has been very successful in creating a
sort of benchmark for other common entrance exam patterns worldwide.
It shows the kind of
initiative these professional bodies take in conduct of these exams and the
high degree of quality being maintained for the students getting the best
grades. That is why ivy league colleges
welcome such students with open hands as they represent cream of the cake..
So after all what is real motive to examine someone? is it just for the sake of conducting a test? Which has now become only a formality or to test aptitude and mental endurance
which is most important to judge suitability of a student for a particular
knowledge based profession or career.
The answer lies with the public at large and the govt of the
day…..
