The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Confusion among students over EAMCET

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Sep 04, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Confusion among students over EAMCET

By R. Ravikanth Reddy

HYDERABAD, SEPT. 3. After a lull, EAMCET is back in news with the remarks of the Higher Education Minister, P. Venkateswara Rao, that Intermediate education is losing its sheen due to more emphasis on EAMCET and the present system needs a review.

The issue has left the student and parent community a confused lot with intentions of the Government are not clear whether EAMCET would be continued or some changes be brought in the admission procedure of engineering and medical courses giving due importance to Intermediate marks.

Students' opinion

"The issue has to be settled fast so that we can concentrate on our studies. We don't mind even if Intermediate marks are considered to arrive at a rank but the decision has to be taken fast," says Divya Teja, a student of Sri Chaitanya College. A majority of students share her opinion.

Students question the need to raise the issue in the midst of an academic year every time. In fact, this has been a trend for the past few years and a couple of years ago the Government almost decided to give due weightage to Intermediate marks. However, it was untouched for reasons unknown. "After change of the Government the issue comes to the fore again. Whether the Government is serious on the issue is not yet clear," says a senior official in the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE).

Court judgment

The official, however, reminds that tinkering with EAMCET, particularly after the Supreme Court's judgment becomes difficult. "Admissions to professional courses have to be made through a common entrance test as per the judgment. If the Government abolishes EAMCET, the system will certainly go haywire with groups of colleges conducting their own tests. Monitoring becomes difficult," he says. "Lot of thinking should go in whether the changes are being made just for the heck of it or the system genuinely demands that."

Stress on debate

A section of academics and administrators are in favour of giving weightage to Intermediate marks. "The menace of corporatisation of Intermediate education can be effectively contained by diluting the importance of EAMCET," feels an official. "But that should not be the only reason to bring in changes. Protection of students' interests and how best students are judged of their abilities and talents has to be considered seriously," he says. "Let the issue be discussed among academics, students, parents and officials before effecting any changes," says another official.

However, a large section of teachers feel conduct of EAMCET should not be the prerogative of JNTU alone. "Either all Universities should be given a chance or a cell should be created roping in eminent academics from different universities to conduct the test," they feel. "This is one change the Government can certainly think of if at all changes are being considered," says a teacher. The APSCHE Governing Council is meeting tomorrow and the issue is likely to find a prominent place on the agenda, particularly in view of the confusion.

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