Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Abolition of CET

This refers to the article “Abolition of CET fulfils expectations” (July 6). A better deal for rural students has been ensured with the Tamil Nadu government abolishing the common entrance test to professional courses. The two major factors the committee of experts on the Abolition of the CET seems to have addressed are — urban versus rural students and Tamil medium versus English medium students. The writer has pointed out that the performance of students in the 2007 higher secondary examinations was much better compared with the past, especially in rural areas. The major credit for this goes to the removal of exceedingly tough chapters from the portions as well as the absence of the pressure to prepare for the CET. The extra time thus secured, as the writer has observed, helped students perform better.

S.R. Badrinarayanan,
Chennai

* * *

The fact that many students are not confident of clearing the CET or even appearing for it is a telling commentary on the quality of school education in the State. The CET only tests the problem-solving skills of students on the basis of what they learn in school. The obvious remedy lies in improving the quality of school education rather than in abolishing CET. The CET standard might not have been good enough, but it was better than the board examination. Instead of taking the long-term approach of improving the quality and reach of primary education, the government has taken the short-sighted decision of abolishing the CET.

C.S. Ramalingam,
Chennai

* * *

Students’ confidence is not deterred by CET but by the quality of teaching. Will not the 12th standard examination shatter the confidence of students? Steps should be taken to enhance the confidence level in students. The argument that the abolition of CET provided additional time to students is vague. CET is only an extension of the 12th standard syllabus.

I would have been happier if the author had attributed the increase in pass percentage to the combined effort of students and teachers, rather than saying the abolition of CET led to it.

G. Balasubramanian,
Chennai

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