Disapproving of the growing influence of coaching centres that put engineering aspirants through a grind, making it difficult for them to concentrate on their senior secondary examinations, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said on Saturday that curtailing the power of such institutions was one of the objectives of the recommendation for a common entrance test.
The coaching institutions “allow the rich and privileged to get their children admitted there and [these students] have a natural advantage [over financially weak students]. Coaching means focussing only on the IIT entrance examination without bothering about Class XII examinations. But this is not the best way to get the best students in the IIT programme,” the Minister said speaking to journalists after the 56th annual convocation of IIT-Kharagpur,
The report of the committee, looking into the proposal for a single-test for engineering admissions, was expected by the beginning of August. “I do not want the students to sit for 20 to 30 examinations. We must reduce the pressure on them and we shall do whatever it takes to lessen the pressure. Many proposals may come our way but we will choose the best for the system that allows the institutions not to depend entirely on one examination for the admission process.”
Pointing out that the university system could not move in a “better direction” unless it encouraged more postgraduate research, Mr. Sibal lauded the efforts of IIT-Kharagpur for focussing increasingly on research activities. This created “real, intangible wealth that can be converted into national wealth”.
Asked about West Bengal's objection to the National Council for Teacher Education Act, he said: “The State Government said it could not follow the Act since most of its teachers at the elementary level are just Class X pass outs…it is certainly not a matter of interference, but a matter of standard.”
In his convocation speech, Mr. Sibal urged students to propel the Indian industry to commanding heights, taking advantage of the time when the country was on an impressive growth path and had a young talent pool. At the function, 1,682 students received their degrees.
Degrees of Doctor of Science ( honoris causa ) were conferred on Srikumar Banerjee, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission; flutist Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia; HCL Chairman Shiv Nadar; and academicians K.L. Chopra and Goverdhan Mehta.
