A major change in India’s admission system could be on the cards with the Centre considering a proposal to give Class 12 board examination scores a 50 per cent weightage in admissions currently based on entrance
tests such as NEET and JEE, news agency PTI reported citing unnamed sources in the know. The proposal is among a set of reforms being examined by a nine-member committee set up by the Ministry of Education last year to look into students’ dependence on coaching centres, the spread of “dummy schools” and fairness in high-stakes entrance examinations.
At present, admissions to medical and engineering courses are based on entrance test scores, while candidates are required to secure a qualifying percentage in board examinations to be eligible for the tests. As per the report, sources said that the proposed changes are aimed at reducing the high-stakes nature of a single examination, whether it is a board exam or an entrance test.
“The changes being contemplated are 50 per cent weightage for board marks in admission merit, closer alignment of entrance tests with school syllabi to reduce dependence on coaching centres, multiple attempts and a gradual shift towards adaptive on-demand computer-based tests,” a source told PTI.
The reforms are being considered against the backdrop of a series of controversies in the examination system, including evaluation errors and paper leaks, which have sparked a wider debate on the credibility and fairness of high-stakes examinations. Apart from the proposal to give greater weight to board examination scores, the committee has also recommended bringing entrance tests closer to school curricula.
The move is intended to reduce students’ dependence on coaching centres by ensuring that entrance examinations are more closely aligned with what is taught in schools. The panel is also examining the possibility of allowing multiple attempts at entrance examinations and gradually introducing adaptive, on-demand computer-based testing.
The committee’s final report is expected to be submitted to the government in the coming weeks. If accepted, the proposals could bring significant changes to the admission process for professional courses, which currently relies primarily on entrance examination scores.
