The JNU Students’ Union on Friday raised concerns over the sanctity and integrity of the conduct of JNU entrance examination (JNUEE) that is being conducted online for the first time this year by the National Testing Agency.
The JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) in a statement on Friday asked who will be monitoring and managing the JNUEE centres this year as earlier, during the exam process, the JNU administration used to prepare a list of faculty and administration staff who would volunteer to participate in the conduct and management of exams at various centres.
“Such process involved a transparent mechanism through which faculty and administration staff were deputed. However, this year, no such process has happened till date. Even if it happened, neither JNUSU, JNU administration or JNU Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) are informed of it,” the JNUSU alleged.
Online mode
It added that from day one the JNUSU has been raising an alarm and pertinent concerns about the modalities of the unilaterally imposed online mode of conducting JNUEE. “Be it the academically unjustifiable one-size-fit-all MCQ format, asking for answer keys months before holding of exams, answers, awarding of tender to NTA and conduct of exam at 300% more cost than offline exam, processing of evaluation by private vendors and so on have already raised valid doubts about the Vice-Chancellor’s agenda,” the JNUSU said.
The JNUSU asked the V-C if there was any malpractice or any breach of sanctity in the conduct of JNUEE at centres, who would manage and monitor as there have been no student, staff or administration volunteers assigned.
They also raised questions on how JNU was able to justify the rising cost of the conduct of the examination that has shot up from ₹3 crore last year to ₹9 crore this year.
“Did JNU V-C divert money meant for seminars, academic engagement, fellowship, hostel and JNU maintenance for conduct of JNUEE as an online exam,” the statement asked.
JNU’s response
The JNU administration has said that the use of modern technology and computer-based test with multiple choice questions makes its entrance examination very objective and discrimination free. It was being done to provide better accessibility to students from across the country and that the number of centres has gone up from 70 last year to 127 this year and more students have applied to study at JNU for this year’s intake. It accused a section of the faculty and some “self-styled student leaders” for spreading falsehoods about the JNUEE.
“Computer-based test has been adopted by several institutes and universities across the country like Delhi University, Pondicherry University, AIIMS and IITs and it has been proven to be the most effective method of conducting large scale entrance examinations and that JNU was adopting a process that objectively evaluates students with no bias.
The online examination is being organised across the country in 127 centres between May 27 and May 31.
