The Hindu : Opinion / Editorials : Let the admissions begin

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 29, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Editorials

Let the admissions begin

The First Bench of the Madras High Court has spoken in unequivocal terms while striking down the Tamil Nadu Government order of June 9 scrapping entrance examinations for admission to professional courses. The court has held that the impugned order was "clearly violative of the selection criteria" laid down in the Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, the All India Council of Technical Education and the Dental Council. Another issue that figured in the government order was the decision to drop the "improvement marks" scheme under which students could reappear for select subjects of the Plus Two examinations to secure better marks, which would then be taken into consideration for admission. Here the court has held that it was entirely for the State to decide, but having allowed it this year, this should be permitted and the Government could do away with the scheme next year, if it wanted to. The key point in the judgment is that abolishing the entrance test affected "equality rights" as students from different streams of higher secondary education sought admission to professional courses and an entrance test was mandatory according to the Regulations.

There was of course the problem of multiplicity of entrance tests being conducted — the Tamil Nadu Professional Courses Entrance Examination (TNPCEE), Common Entrance Tests held by some associations of self-financing colleges, and those organised individually by the Deemed Universities. Many students considered all this mental cruelty, akin to torture. The solution would have been to designate the TNPCEE as the reference point so that all colleges in the State could go by its results for admission. When there are students from the Central and State Boards, in addition to other streams, seeking admission to medical and engineering colleges, a common test approximates fair equality of opportunity. That is why all the regulations have stipulated a common entrance test, which the Supreme Court has upheld. Legally, it is open to the Tamil Nadu Government to appeal to the apex court against the High Court's ruling. However, considering that this could further delay the admission process and upset both the academic year and the rhythm of the students, it would be best to accept the High Court's verdict sportingly and concentrate on preparing a hassle-free, forward-looking system of admissions for 2006. Indian students are flocking to centres of higher learning abroad, and it makes sense to simplify and streamline the process of admission to institutions of quality within India. For that to happen, the Government of India must take the initiative to introduce a countrywide common skills and aptitude test that can become the basis for admission to any college in the country. Accession to this system can be voluntary but institutions that stay out are unlikely to fare well. This is the moment to begin a long overdue reform in higher education.

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