TURA:
With apprehension about the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) among students keen to pursue higher studies, calls are being made for the state to establish its own university to handle this situation which is fast becoming a nightmare not just for the students of the state but also the Education department that is unsure how and where can it accommodate the thousands of applicants who are seeking admission.
Congress-turned-Trinamool MDC from Rongrong (Resubelpara) in North Garo Hills, Rinaldo K Sangma, has written to state Education minister, Lahkmen Rymbui, urging his department to initiate steps at the earliest to protect the future careers of the student community of the state.
“This CUET exam for students aspiring to undertake general courses like BA, B.Com and B.Sc will have an adverse effect on thousands of our students,” warned the GHADC MDC.
He pointed out that since it (CUET) is a computer-based online examination it is simply not feasible in a state like Meghalaya where computers, or for that matter network connectivity, is extremely poor.
He questioned the preparation for CUET and the number of computers that will be available to cater to the thousands of students who will flock to the limited centres set up in the state.
Citing one example of his own district in North Garo Hills, he said “We have little over 1000+ students per session clearing the exams. If these centres can offer 50 computers per batch, it would just cater to 400 students cumulatively in both morning and afternoon batches. How many days will it take to conduct the tests for the entire Garo Hills and the state. Can our students afford the expenses to travel and appear for these exams?”
He said that the solution lies in Meghalaya setting up its own university in line with Assam’s Don Bosco University and Down Town University.
Sangma pointed out that even though Meghalaya has as many as nine private universities recognised by UGC, yet, almost all colleges in the entire state are affiliated to the North Eastern Hill University.
Students who wish to join various degree courses under NEHU are required to face the CUET examination.
The MDC said that it would be a historic decision if the state government moved to legislate a bill to provincialise one of the private universities under its administrative arm considering the prevailing situation and all the existing factors.