IIT responds to Kapil Sibal’s Proposal of One Nation One Test

In the last few days, one news roll that has hit the line invoking pace-y discussions and arguments is the new amendment proposed by HRD Minister, Kapil Sibal in the selection process of students for the IIT(Indian Institutes of Technology), NIT(National Institutes of Technology) and the IIIT's (Indian Institutes of Information Technology). So, what is the scuffle about? Josh takes a subjective take on the whole episode.

Since the yesteryears an IIT aspirant has always valued his/her IIT coaching's more than his 12 board examinations. We often have spotted kids travelling to far off places in buses or autos to take that ‘one' practice paper for IIT-JEE, with the new reform of equal weightage to class 12 exams, the questions that hit us are: will Sibal be able to divide the burden of performances properly? Is it the right way to approach the IIT and its magnanimity? Won't it put the IIT under a pressure cloak of getting quality students? Will the equal weight age game not put double pressure on the student under the garb of relieving them?  Well, for these questions, we need to wait, but as of now, it looks like the education system  of India is soon to get a ‘reality check'  and Sibal on his place is certain that this amendment is going to be a blessing to all students who have been a part of this dubious storm for times immemorial.

The HRD minister rattled the nation with a proposal ‘ One nation one test' in May 2012.Come fall 2013, there will be a new format for admission to all centrally funded government institutes (IITs, NITs, IIITs).

For IIT:

• The proposal made is, the ‘one' common joint entrance test (IIT-JEE) will replace the IIT-JEE and the AIEEE.
• Considerable weight age would be laid on the class 12 results.
•  The test will be of two types, the JEE-main and JEE- advanced, that would be scheduled on the same day.
• The JEE merit list will be prepared on the basis of the cumulative marks of Class 12, Main and Advanced.
• The Main exam would have comprised multiple choice questions while the pattern of the advanced would be set by the IIT, Joint Admission Board (JAB), meaning a screening test.

For NIT, IIIT and other central government-funded engineering colleges

• There will be no screening test.
• The merit list will be based on Class XII marks for which 40% weight age will be given.
• Main and Advanced scores will have 30% weight age each.

Why the sudden change?

• The multiplicity of different entrance examinations that a student goes through, in order to pursue an engineering course only adds up to the students ‘woe-list'
• The tenure, payment of examination fees and not to forget the stress while preparing for each paper doesn't exactly help the student in any which way.
• Also, the neglect to the class 12 examination sums to a lopsided parameter.

Apparently Gujarat, Maharashtra and Haryana have already decided to adopt the new mode for the engineering exams from 2013.The decision was announced following a meeting of the Joint Councils of IITs, NITs and IIITs, with the Federation of Faculty of IITs.

IIT has struck the bull's eye by standing against the proposal. According to the pioneer institute, the single common test would not only lower the quality of students entering the institute but would also demean the name and reputation the institute swears for.

The IIT's seem to have taken things in serious contempt and all going ‘nation angry' on the proposal. The IIT - Kanpur which had initially called a ‘no-objection' radar has now decided to walk against the decision. The IIT Delhi Alumni Association and All India IIT Faculty Federation have also sought an audience with the Prime minister to apprise them of the whole ‘situation'. The common line seen and heard amongst all discussions is the ‘violation of the autonomy exercised by IIT'.

What could be rather amusing is, that if the step was discussed and taken by the IIT Council in the beginning, what could be the divine inspiration behind the sudden protest? Though the debate does look valid on both sides, the outcome of this episode is heading to a huge argument between the ‘glory of the institution and the need of the students'.