The Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO) has written to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to demand a further exemption from the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) in Meghalaya.
While the test had been introduced nationwide last year, Meghalaya students are sitting for it for the first time this year after the state received a one year exemption, with the state government arguing then that Meghalaya was not yet ready in terms of facilities, etc.
The first round of CUET undergraduate examinations last week were notable for a major hiccup in the centre located at North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), where students faced delays of several hours to sit their papers.
The test is mandatory to gain admission to central universities (such as NEHU) and their affiliated colleges. Some private universities have also decided to embrace CUET.
HITO said that the chaos on the day showed that the state was still not ready to hold the exams and that the test is a burden on students from economically weak backgrounds.
“The lack of infrastructure and examination centres has caused inconvenience and financial burdens to many aspiring students,” HITO said in the letter. “We believe that it is unfair to enforce a policy without proper preparation. The recent events have demonstrated that Meghalaya is not yet ready to host the CUET examinations. Despite this, the government has proceeded with the examinations, causing confusion among students and resulting in a waste of time and money.”
