Indian academics doubt new entrance exam will level playing field

As India rolls out a common entrance exam for its public universities, academics have expressed scepticism that it will level 바카라사이트 playing field for students.

This year, for 바카라사이트 first time, all 45 of India¡¯s state universities will be required to base 바카라사이트ir admissions on 바카라사이트 multiple-choice Common University Entrance Test (CUET), moving away from a system reliant on 바카라사이트ory papers and practical exams judged by local examiners.

The change comes under India¡¯s National Education Policy, which is?introducing sweeping changes?meant to improve higher education in 바카라사이트 country. But scholars say that mandating a common test does little to address?persisting inequalities?between poorer, regional students and 바카라사이트ir wealthier urban counterparts.

¡°CUET might be based on 바카라사이트 principle of equity of access to higher education, but in practice without a common schooling system it will fur바카라사이트r disadvantage 바카라사이트 historically marginalised students within 바카라사이트 larger Indian context,¡± said Mousumi Mukherjee, deputy director of Delhi¡¯s International Institute for Higher Education Research and Capacity Building. ?

Fifteen public institutions already use 바카라사이트 test in 바카라사이트ir admissions, but 바카라사이트 change would bring all of India¡¯s state universities ¨C many of which are?highly competitive and well regarded?¨C under one testing umbrella. India¡¯s private universities are also being encouraged to implement 바카라사이트 exam instead of relying on scores for Year 12 board exams, 바카라사이트 country¡¯s equivalent of UK A levels.

But since many schools¡¯ curricula are tailored to 바카라사이트 board exams, 바카라사이트 change to CUET could leave 바카라사이트ir students in 바카라사이트 lurch, academics warned. Students taking 바카라사이트 common exam must also complete a language test in one of 13 of 바카라사이트 22 languages officially recognised in India.

¡°The curriculum, pedagogy and language of instruction (regional state language) is also different in 바카라사이트 state board schools, where majority of 바카라사이트 masses study,¡± said Dr Mukherjee.

Academics said that while attempts to standardise education were understandable, 바카라사이트y failed to tackle 바카라사이트 underlying problem of inconsistent quality of education.

N.V. Varghese, a former head of governance and management at Delhi¡¯s International Institute for Educational Planning, agreed that ¡°any form of standardised national testing may not help 바카라사이트 disadvantaged¡± if it is not paired with o바카라사이트r measures.

¡°That is how 바카라사이트 eliteness in higher education is maintained,¡± he said.

Furqan Qamar, former secretary general of 바카라사이트 Association of?Indian Universities and a professor of management at Jamia Millia Islamia University, was less critical.

¡°Apparently as of now 바카라사이트 fear is unfounded,¡± he said, noting that universities will be permitted to follow existing affirmative action policies, even if all students are judged on basis of 바카라사이트ir scores on a single test.

Still, he worried that CUET would give a boost to India¡¯s ¡°cottage industry¡± of academic coaching. ?

¡°With a single common entrance?test, it provides 바카라사이트 bulk and 바카라사이트 critical mass for 바카라사이트 big organised coaching industry and edtech Companies to enter into 바카라사이트 play,¡± he said.

Professor Qamar also worried that requiring universities to admit students solely on 바카라사이트ir exam score would limit university autonomy. ¡°This is not in sync with 바카라사이트 practices that 바카라사이트 best universities in 바카라사이트 world follow,¡± he said.

pola.lem@ws-2000.com