The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Mixed response to meet on EAMCET

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 22, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Mixed response to meet on EAMCET

By Our Staff Reporter

VIJAYAWADA, NOV. 21. The first phase of exercise to elicit views with regard to continuation of the present system of EAMCET and possible changes, evoked a mixed response in Vijayawada. Barring the first two rounds of the open forum, there was virtually no response to the remaining four rounds of the workshop held on Sunday. Students of junior colleges and schools as well as their parents attended the first session (9.30 am to 11.30 am) while the second session (between 11.30 am and 12.30 noon) was for teachers and the teachers' organisations.

In light of the public debate on the efficacy of EAMCET gaining momentum, the State Council for Higher Education constituted a five-member high power committee, headed by the former Vice-Chancellor of JNT University, P. Dayaratnam, as its chairman and former V-C of Acharya N. G. Ranga Agicultural University, I.V. Subba Rao, the former V-C, NTR University of Health Sciences, G. Shamsunder, former Director of Collegiate Education, Government of Andhra Pradesh, T. Venkata Reddy, and the former principal of St. Francis Degree College, Begumpet, Romana Fernandes, as its members.

BIE pulled up

Interestingly, the participants comprised students of only corporate colleges and a few parents who apparently were helping their wards gear up for the next EAMCET. All students wanted the entrance test to continue as they felt that it was helpful in triggering a healthy competition among the community. They, however, came up with a number of suggestions pertaining to the present pattern of EAMCET which, they believed, would further help strengthen the examination system. The participants were unanimous in criticising the Board of Intermediate Education. Admissions into medical and engineering colleges based on the marks secured in Intermediate course would not be fair as there were several loopholes in the BIE's style of functioning, they alleged.

Strongly supporting the need for continuing the EAMCET, one of the participants said it was not just relevant but a `necessity'. "The Government should not think of dispensing with the test until it finds a suitable alternative," he opined. Other aspects highlighted were that an `objective type' of exam is far superior in terms of identifying the meritorious students and thus the need for EAMCET.

Mr. Dayaratnam pointed out that though most parents expressed concern over the amount of stress and strain the entrance test caused to their wards, a majority of them welcomed it saying it would help them further ignite their zeal to shine and emerge victorious.

Suggestions

All the participants wanted the authorities concerned to re-introduce `negative marking'. More transparency, proper valuation at the intermediate-level and removal of errors in textbooks were some of the common concerns. There were also views opposing conduct of the exam by the same university every year. "The Government should create a separate examination cell for the purpose," said a lecturer from Narayana college.

Empty chairs greeted the committee members in the post-lunch round of the workshop. They waited in vain till 6 p.m.

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