The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : CBSE turns down association plea to conduct common entrance test

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 26, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

CBSE turns down association plea to conduct common entrance test

By K. Ramachandran

CHENNAI, APRIL 25. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has turned down a request from the Association of Self-Financing Private Engineering Colleges, Tamil Nadu (ASPECT) asking the Board to conduct a common entrance test (CET) for filling management quota seats in unaided engineering colleges in the State.

The CBSE's Director Academics, G. Balasubramaniam, has written to the ASPECT, stating that it would not conduct the CET this year, as there was very little time.

A spokesman and Treasurer of ASPECT, P. Selvaraj, said the CBSE appreciated the association reposing faith in the credibility of the Central Board. The Board would consider the request for conducting a CET next year on behalf of our association.''

The ASPECT's general body, which met in Tiruchi on April 3, decided to request the CBSE to conduct the CET. It made a formal request to the CBSE. The ASPECT's representatives met the CBSE's regional officer here.

The Supreme Court in its order of August 2003 stated the management quota seats could be filled through a CET conducted by the State or Central government agency or an association of professional colleges of a similar type.

The association considered various options for holding the CET and the member-colleges felt that taking the assistance of the Central Government organisation would lend credibility to the admission process.

The association is now forming an experts committee comprising educationists and retired administrators for conducting the CET. Nearly 100 member-institutions gave their consent to participate in this test, Mr. Selvaraj said.

``It is our association which had moved the High Court for the constitution of a committee headed by a retired judge of the High Court to look after the activities relating to the conduct of the CET. The government in its G.O dated 19-3-04 had formed the committee headed by retired Judge S.S. Subramani.''

The association has submitted its memorandum to the Chairman of the Committee seeking permission to hold the test.

The committee would meet here on April 30, and hold hearings with associations of professional colleges which want a CET conducted for different disciplines.

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