The All-India Students’ Association (AISA) protested outside the University Grants Commission (UGC) office on Wednesday despite heavy police presence. The students were demonstrating against cancellation of the National Eligibility Test (NET), that was to be held in June-July.
In a notification dated June 6, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), which conducts the NET, said that the next examination would be held on November 19.
This was followed by protests from aspirants, who said that the UGC was “backstabbing” them by not conducting the bi-annual exam in July.
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‘UGC not consulted’
“The June-July NET was skipped without any notice. This, despite the acting chairperson promising in April that it would be held. Also, there have been reports that the number of NET qualifiers will be reduced from 15% to 6%. The government is trying to reduce scholarships using these means,” said AISA national president Sucheta De.
UGC Additional Secretary Pankaj Mittal, who met AISA representatives, said the matter was between the CBSE and the Ministry of Human Resource Development, and that the UGC had not been consulted.
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“The chairperson sent the Additional Secretary to spread more lies. It was absurd when he said that the UGC was not involved. How is that possible? Moreover, she said that the July examination will be held, but we still don’t have any notification,” added Ms. De.
Candidates who qualify the NET are eligible to work as assistant professors. With the examination becoming an annual affair, aspirants voiced despair.
Aspirants may lose year
“I was supposed to appear for the NET in July. The only reason my family let me pursue higher education was the hope that the scholarship would help me with research. It is a life-and-death situation for me. It will affect my employment opportunities,” said Aman Sinha, who hails from Bihar’s Muzaffarpur and is pursuing M.A. History from JNU.
“I was planning to appear for this year’s NET and undertake research. This new decision has disrupted my plan. It is difficult to understand the ideology of the government. Without scholarship money, how do they expect poor students to sustain themselves?” said Mohd. Tahir from Bulandshahr.
“I was prepared for two exams in a year. An annual examination would mean that if I don’t qualify now, I will lose a year,” said Mohd. Asif from Muzaffarnagar, who is pursuing M.A. from Aligarh Muslim University.
“We have given the UGC a week to respond to our queries. If they fail to do so, we will carry out militant protests” added Ms. De.