73% of the people backed the proposal of Single examination to admission in Science
& Engineering
The concept of introducing one single examination for admission
to all undergraduate courses in science and engineering has received overwhelming
support. As many as 73% of the people who sent in their responses backed the proposal.
A committee under T. Ramasami, secretary, department of science and technology,
involved in designing the national testing scheme had sought public opinion on the
proposal through a specially designed questionnaire on a range of issues. A website
was launched in May 2011 to seek responses online and was open till June 21, 2011.
The National Testing Scheme will mean that applicants will not have to give multiple
examinations conducted across the country by various institutions or consortium
of institutions. The HRD ministry said 2,063 responses were obtained and analysed
by the committee. An overwhelming majority of the respondents were in favour of
the reforms in the examination system with 59% suggesting major changes and 26%
advocating partial changes. The suggestions indicated were preference for a single
examination having high knowledge intensity and features such as alignment with
the Class XII examination syllabus, affordable examination fee, judicious use of
time and money and transparency in examination results. Substantial support also
came for a weighting factor for performance in the school board examinations at
Class XII. Weighting factor was favoured by 66% of the respondents. Of the respondents
who were against the weighting of the Class XII board examinations for admission
to undergraduate programmes, the principal reason cited was of non-uniformity across
state examination boards.
Of the responses, 98.5% were from India and 11% were from women. As many
as 74% of the respondents had a science or engineering background. Among those who
sent in responses, 59% were students, 32% were employed and 5% were parents. The
recommendations of the Ramasami Committee would be finalized by September.
Courtesy: Times of India
