Chennai, March 26 (BPNS)
The academic community and political leadership of Tamil Nadu have come out with stiff opposition against the proposed UGC move to conduct a common entrance test for admission to various courses in 45 Central universities of the country.
M. R. Ayyappan, a retired professor from a Government College in Tamil Nadu while speaking to BPNS said, “Just like NEET had created damage to the rural students of Tamil Nadu, the Common entrance test for admissions to Central university will bring in an urban, rural divide and poor students from rural background will be left out in the race. The government of Tamil Nadu and the people of the state must object staunchly against this draconian move.”
It may be noted that the University Grants Commission (UGC) has recently announced Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for admission to the 45 Central Universities in the country.
Tamil Nadu teachers association State president, P.K. Illamaran while speaking to BPNS said, “With the introduction of the Central University Entrance Test (CUET), there will not be any value for the Class XII marks and students will have to depend on entrance coaching centres for capsule format coaching to get into these institutions. The focus of the students will be to clear the entrance test and there will not be any stress on the foundations of the subject.”
He also said that schools would turn into coaching centres and those who cannot afford entrance coaching will be left out of admission in prestigious central universities.
Tamil Nadu higher Education minister, K. Ponmudi while speaking to BPNS said, “This CUET exam would adversely affect the opportunities of students from the state and just like NEET students from rural and poor background will be denied admission for lack of coaching through professional entrance coaching institutes. This will lead to students not being able to get admission to prestigious colleges like Jawaharlal Nehru University and other central universities like Hyderabad central university.”
However, Dr. Manonmani. G, Professor in a government college at Chennai while speaking to BPNS said, “ I do welcome the entrance test for admission to Central universities. It is to be noted that students from rural backgrounds don’t know whether the central universities do exist at all and with the entrance there is a level playing field and the rural and urban divide will be reduced to a larger extent.”
