The state government is most likely to withdraw its participation from the Joint Entrance Exam (Main) conducted by the Centre for admissions to the state's engineering colleges. Minister for higher and technical education Vinod Tawde announced the state's plans to conduct its own common entrance test (CET) for engineering admissions from 2016. The decision, once implemented, will be a relief to more than 1 lakh students, who seek admissions to engineering seats in the state. Prior to 2014, the state was conducting its own test.
Tawde made the statement while interacting with the media in Vile Parle. He said, "It is not possible to make any changes this year as forms for JEE (Main) have already been filled. But from next year, I have suggested that the state conduct its own CET for engineering admissions." Elaborating on reasons for the decision, he said, "There is a big lobby of private coaching institutes which charges students over Rs 2.5 lakh to coach students for JEE (Main), which is based on CBSE syllabus. If the state conducts its own CET, based on state board syllabus, it will help students from rural areas."
Parents and private engineering colleges' associations have been long seeking the shift from JEE (Main) to CET. "For our students, coping with the vast JEE (Main) syllabus was difficult. Also, engineering aspirants have to focus on their scores for class XII and JEE (Main)," said Subhash Joshi, former professor of Patkar College in Goregaon.
Tawde said the government will continue to give 50% weightage to class XII scores and 50% to CET scores instead of the JEE (Main).
Officials from the technical education department said if the state goes back to its own CET, it should have a common MHT-CET. "If medical and engineering entrance tests will be held by the state, a combined test is better," said an official. "Students then will not have to take the physics and chemistry tests twice."
COURTESY: TIMES OF INDIA
Tawde made the statement while interacting with the media in Vile Parle. He said, "It is not possible to make any changes this year as forms for JEE (Main) have already been filled. But from next year, I have suggested that the state conduct its own CET for engineering admissions." Elaborating on reasons for the decision, he said, "There is a big lobby of private coaching institutes which charges students over Rs 2.5 lakh to coach students for JEE (Main), which is based on CBSE syllabus. If the state conducts its own CET, based on state board syllabus, it will help students from rural areas."
Parents and private engineering colleges' associations have been long seeking the shift from JEE (Main) to CET. "For our students, coping with the vast JEE (Main) syllabus was difficult. Also, engineering aspirants have to focus on their scores for class XII and JEE (Main)," said Subhash Joshi, former professor of Patkar College in Goregaon.
Tawde said the government will continue to give 50% weightage to class XII scores and 50% to CET scores instead of the JEE (Main).
Officials from the technical education department said if the state goes back to its own CET, it should have a common MHT-CET. "If medical and engineering entrance tests will be held by the state, a combined test is better," said an official. "Students then will not have to take the physics and chemistry tests twice."
COURTESY: TIMES OF INDIA
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