Rongrong MDC, Rinaldo K Sangma today said that introduction of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) is literally impractical to be enforced in Meghalaya and said that the state should set up its own university to save the career of students.
Sangma in a letter to education minister Lahkmen Rymbui posed numerous questions while highlighting the challenges the State would face.
“For starters, how many computers will the Tura, Shillong, Guwahati centres and the newly inducted centre in Ri Bhoi have? Since it is a computer based online examination,” he questioned.
He said in North Garo Hills alone, there are over thousand plus students per session clearing HSSLC examination. “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 tests for the whole of Garo Hills? How many days for the entire 12 districts of Meghalaya? And most importantly, can all our students afford to travel and appear the examinations at these centres at their own expenses?”
He suggested that the government establish its own Meghalaya university. “Assam already has two state private universities included in the UGC Act 1956—Assam Don Bosco University and Assam Down Town University—with colleges in every nook and corner of Assam affiliated under these universities. At present Meghalaya has about nine private universities recognized under the consolidated list in the UGC Act. But almost all our colleges are affiliated to North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) and to none of these private universities,” he pointed out, adding, “It would be a historic and remarkable decision, if the government resolves to legislate a bill and provincialise one of these private universities under its administrative arm considering the prevalent situation and all the existing factors.”
Sangma said to undergo professional courses through NEET, JEE or CLAT is all different, but not all aspire to be doctors, engineers or lawyers. “We have aspiring students who want to opt for simple general courses and become teachers, who intend to bring about a change in our society by imparting social and moral values education to the next generation. This CUET will prove as a near impossible obstacle and hindrance for our young students aspiring to aim for higher academics especially those coming from weaker sections and rural areas,” he said.
