Faculty federation calls on PM
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday promised that the autonomy of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) will remain “intact,” according to the All-India IIT Faculty Federation (AIIITFF).
Dr. Singh gave the assurance to a delegation of the federation that met him to apprise him of the situation arising out of the Centre's announcement last month of a common entrance test for all undergraduate engineering courses.
The federation is opposed to the plan. “We explained each of our points to the Prime Minister. He has told us he will talk to [the] HRD Minister and assured [us] that the autonomy of the IITs will remain intact,” AIIITFF secretary A.K. Mittal told journalists.
The federation sought Dr. Singh's intervention to ensure that there was no change in the examination pattern in 2013, allow the IIT Senates to decide on admissions (considering all aspects like the format of examination and modalities) and to maintain the IITs' academic autonomy.
The federation has been maintaining that a joint test will undermine the IITs'autonomy.
Mr. Mittal said: “We also insisted that any change in the entrance test should be effected only after 2013.”
On giving weightage to board marks after the process of normalisation for preparing the merit list, the federation said: “Normalisation of board marks needs more studies.''
Keywords: IITs, Joint Entrance Examination, JEE issue, All-India IIT Faculty Federation, Manmohan Singh
The idea of common entrance test(CET) for reducing the burden of writing many entrance tests for engineering do not have any strong base.HRD's minister Mr.Kapil Sibal is in a false hope that 'CET' will reduce the stress levels on the minds of the students,but indeed it will increase because of the weightage given to the 12 board exams and even the percentile method to calculate weightage isn't so satisfying,it cant be so accurate that it will unifiy the whole diversifying board patterns across India.Its like breaching the students who will be writing JEE this year.So it will be better to implement this system later on(year 2014).
in many state entrance exams the system of negative marking is not present. only some highly competitive exams like JEE and AIEEE follow this system. following this system may lead to disqualification of a large students.this would lead to large number of vacant seats. if this system of negative marking is not followed, it may result in leakage of some 'lucky' students in reputed IITs and NITs. this is not desirable as IIT education is a highly subsidised one and some lacks of government money will be wasted for those 'lucky students'. so it may be difficult to mix JEE and normal state entrance exam to conduct a single national exam. also this system creates new pressure on students as they have only one chance a year to get into any institute.
It had been working well over half a century. As such what is the need of any change in the admission pattern in I.I.Ts ?
The whole exercise is pathetic. If IITs are excellent institutes , why no undergraduate joins in a post-graduate course in IITs. A BTech from IIT is a tremendous qualification , but an MTech from IIT is least coveted , Ph.D is for the black sheep. In any foreign university its reputation rests on research , then on the postgraduate education they impart and undergraduates come last. This is the case with AIIMS or CMC Vellore or other medical colleges.There teachers work and learn.For IIT teacher machine is the model in the lab. By this yardstick we must conclude that IITs are staffed by teachers living one step above coaching centers and with no access to scientific activity except reading the study material and holding bombastic exams in which majority get through to prove that IITs are good. IIT is a collective myth. Every one knows the Kota-Andhra route to IITs. The teachers are currently more bothered about their careers and promotions. Autonomy is the catch word!
Common Entrance test is not the good way for getting into IIT's,NIT's. Because it is giving waitage to the intermediate marks.Based on this we cannot measure the student's IQ.Some state board exams are very simple. So please think once before implementing this system.
To PD Singh, The great thing about IITs is we do not maintain status quo, but seek the best of whatever we step onto. IIT alumni are the reason the institutes are performing at the appreciable pace despite poor funding in the research. The appalling state of the public services can be attributed to the corrupt practices rampant in the sector. Do not blame IITs for this.
To PD Singh, If you want to know about the contribution of IITs to the nation, please do find time to visit techfest and see the IIT-projects stalls. Just that will give you enough insight. If you are not satisfied with that, please find time to talk about the projects pursued in the institutes. But do not degrade IITs by saying they do not contribute. I am simply amazed The Hindu did not moderate such a feeble argument. Your daily not so far from now highlighted the contributions of VSK Murthy who won numerous awards for a piece of his research.
P D Singh, ou are absolutely right! But no minister talks about them. IITs have been created to produce engineers who can contribute to the nation, but they had done it hardly. Thanks to the Govt. There should be a mandatory rule that these guys should serve India for the time they have spent in Indian institute, else its a mockery of education system! There is a need to downgrade IIT status and improve university standards. There is a strong need for eduction reforms, currently it is disobjective oriented education! The purpose of engineering education is not about application, but it has become like useless knowledge as the graduates landing in random careers, best example Chetan Bhagat!
There is no point in studying in mechanical engineering if some one spend life in writing novels or working for a investment bank! This is called poor education!
Autonomy of all educational institutions is important provided it is judiciously used. Secondly, let us admit that there is such a large number of students seeking admission to IITs because of quality of education in IITs and also because elsewhere the same quality of is unavailable. One long term solution is to set up new Institutes of Technology (let us call them 'Model IITs') and ensure that all deserving students from economically weaker sections in both urban and rural areas get admissions in these Model IITs. In about ten years, we may see a healthy competition between students for seats in both the old IITs and Model IITs. We have to make vigorous efforts to train new faculty. Retired faculty of the IITs may be of considerable help in the field of training of new faculty. Good remuneration and freedom to work without unnecessary bureaucratic interference are prerequisites for attracting talented youth to teaching jobs.
The idea of all india common entrance test is very brilliant idea taken by the government of india.But considiring the 12th standard marks is not acceptable because the student with even 50% capable of having good technical knowledge.
As far as the IIT's autonomous status is considered then ,its pretty clear they should get some edge over other entrance exams. as one should look into other exam patterns and question paper and then decide after comparing it with the IIT's exam pattern. we can't combine the whole entrance into a single exam,as here the importance of IIT's reputation and exam structure are at verge of decrease,here it's nowhere a biased feeling for the other entrance exams.But the impact that this would make on IIT's status or reputation around the world is also a matter ,which needs to looked. Autonomous status for the IIt's is a good step taken by prime minister to intact both the exceptional technicality,which comes out from the student which passes from the institute and as well the status or reputation that IIT has made around the world . If We really want a common paper for all the engineering entrance then,It should have standard of IIT entrance paper.
I'm not bothered about the old rigmorale , except a 10% from IIT and RECs who serve to Indias growth rest all either act as broker to MNCs for India or contribute the MNC, and R&D in US or Europe . What we need today is uplift the education system and recommend one best education system to all. Atleast the people in Planning commission should have to consult with developed countries ,make agreements and implement the best education system.But never we should forget to develop our own education system and incorporate it down the line. We know Planning commission also doing the possible good besides the pressure from Politician , Foreign Country restriction , and also taking their own self interest in making some money ....But atleast from now we need the change in ourself. Let everyone know and write the IIT entrance exam.Why do autonomous, are you the defence or security part of Govt to have autonomous.
The Govt should bring one unique education system in schools.But let the state Govt manage it and give independence let them choose their own mother language and religious as well as language subjects . Yes these politician will protest using language as tool as they may loose thier Business and money making in education . I recommend to ban all NCERT , ICSE , CBSE and have one common recommendation . But the honest truth is no one in planning commission of education does this because they go in hand with Politicians and let the Foreigners also make money . We have to come up with our own educational system and values down the line . Also we need to look in the unique talent among students rather than just marks and rankings . Talent has no dependence on language, or Hi-Fi schools ,even normal standard of living does ,unless under poverty. But anyway I have wasted 8 mins by typing this basic truth even a layman knows , but what to do? My humble request to planning commission to look.
Yes let IIT maintain their autnomous .But there is no wrong if Govt brings one Common Entrance examination in India . It will no no account will bring down the quality of IIT and its very absurd to have such a view . The drawback India had we didnt develop our own education policy and our original values and still continuing with what British had left out .But even today the upper class and High educated family in Urban has access to latest education system .But the sad part is in Rural India the education system is utmost bad.The key intiatives Govt should think as of today .1.)Yes its hard truth education is Business in India , let it be ,atleast change the quality of it. 2.)yes Govt move is good , let the talented rural Candidate also know where they are lying in this country , let them write IIT or any exam at lowest cost with Govt support.I believe rural Indians are the building block of this country why are they denied so .3.)Govt should bring one unique education system .
Common entrance test is the only way to get really good students, people
who're more interested in studies and research than in money into the
IITs. Poor people studying in villages, who're unable to shed 2 lakh
rupees at Kota, should get equal weightage- an aspect of IIT education
largely ignored so far.
As AIIITFF has pointed and explained about IIT's education thats good and after 2013 also no need to change the exam pattern of IIT's because it's a only one univercity where we can get good education and we will become as scientist and please don't make it as politics it's my request and suggestion to central.
MM Singh does not have the autonomy to run his own office. Meeting him and getting any
assurance from him is a waste of time and worth nothing. AIIITF should instead meet Sonia
Ghandhi if they want to gain any thing.
board marks should not be considered bcoz sum state board exams are not as simple as cbse.where students get 85-96% of marks but students with 65-75% marks are also capable by there technical skills.
'One Nation One Test' is excelent step taken by Govt but giving weightage 12 class marks will ruin engineering system of country.
Has anyone ever made an attempt to evaluate and assess the
contribution, if any, of IITs to India in any way. They represent, in
my opinion, an elitist institutional framework to perpetuate the
status quo. The moment you question them they go on the attack. Will
somebody tell me what is so great about IITs, apart from the fact that
the IIT alumni make loads of money in foreign lands. Look at the state
of Indian Engineering - the roads, the bridges (take ages to complete
and completely disrupt life), we have to import all technology (be it
in automobile or any other sector for that matter). What have they
contributed - let there be debate!
If we talk about IIT's autonomy then it's ok. But If we talk about state
university and other private deemed university's status then there
should be a research on this and then decide, what is the need to do ?
They are very poor to give good education. For those there should be the
evaluation of the exam paper not answer copy.
There is a great need of provision in the education system.
As AIIITFF has pointed, IIT's academic autonomy should be intact such that IITs can maintain their high level of technical standard. And hopefully prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will discuss with his ministers and comeup with a good deal which will come in to effect only after 2013. Normalisation is a bit difficult task in this situation, because it needs to balance many factors.
I have always been a huge admirer of 'The Hindu'. But the title of
this article has been written in very poor sense. It seems very
disgraceful to read - 'Autonomy of IITs will remain intact, says
Manmohan'. This is certainly not the way how one would address the
Prime Minister of a nation. And that too, one of the highly qualified
and respected Prime Ministers, India has ever got.
Please take due considerations in this regard and if possible update
the title to a better one.
kalam is a correct person to the president.
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