The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) which will be held sometime in July will be based on the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)’s Class 12 syllabus.
This will be to the disadvantage of the vast majority of students studying in schools affiliated with Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE) which has its own prescribed curriculum.
The Centre has made the computer-based test mandatory for admissions to undergraduate courses at all 44 central universities and their affiliated colleges for academic session 2022-23.
With North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) being a central university in Meghalaya, therefore, all admission to colleges affiliated with NEHU will be after clearing the CUET.
The CUET will bring in complications not only in Meghalaya, but other states following their own board and prescribed curriculum.
Many parents and teachers in the State are worried and said that CUET will put the students especially those from the rural areas in a difficult situation.
Students of the CBSE, which uses NCERT books, are more at an advantageous position at clearing the CUET. The ICSE Board has different books and students from there might be at a disadvantage. Further, the MCQs are tricky questions and young students will find it difficult to handle such questions and may require coaching to clear the exams.
Registration for the CUET through the National Testing Agency web portal has started since April 6 and will be open till May 6.
The date of CUET has not been released officially yet but the exam is expected to be conducted in the second week of July, 2022.
Meghalaya has only two centres to conduct the CUET. The National Testing Agency has notified only two centres – one Shillong and one in Ri Bhoi.
Officials of the National Testing Agency have verbally assured that the CUET centres will be set up in all the district headquarters of the State.
The first week of registrations for the CUET saw over 1.27 lakh applications – over half of which came from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
From the North East, 2,485 applications have come from Assam, 1,134 from Tripura, 602 from Mizoram, 525 from Arunachal Pradesh, 193 from Meghalaya, 162 from Manipur, 101 from Nagaland and 74 from Sikkim.
According to the CUET application process, general category applicants can book a test slot by paying Rs 650, OBC/EWS applicants Rs 600 and SC/ST applicants can do so on payment of Rs 550.
