BHUBANESWAR: Parents and students in the state said the Centre’s decision to conduct the JEE (Main)-2021 in regional languages, including Odia, would not help them much.
Students said the higher secondary science courses — needed for both NEET and JEE — were taught in English in the state. There are hardly any textbooks or study material for the same available in Odia. Besides, coaching centres that offer coaching for the national exams also do so in English.
“Initially, we struggle when we have to study higher secondary science in English. The Plus II textbooks are also in English. Writing the entrance examination in Odia will not help us much. However, it might help those who completed their schooling in Odia-medium. Maybe they can understand the questions better,” said Sameer Sethi, a JEE aspirant and a student of BJB Higher Secondary School.
Of the 800-odd students who registered to appear for the NEET -2020 exam in Odia, 657 candidates appeared for the test in the regional language. Of them, 237 qualified with a pass percentage of 36.
“Appearing for the entrance exam in Odia may not be of much help to the students because, ultimately, they have to pursue the technical courses in English and not in the regional languages. Preparing study materials in vernacular language is difficult as there are no experts who are competent in both the subject and the language,” said Janmejay Mandal, a senior faculty in Vidwan Coaching Centre here.
Former principal of BJB Autonomous College S N Mohanty said, “Scientific concepts and principles are explained and written better in English. If we allow students to appear for the entrance exams in Odia, we have to develop quality study material in the language. Coaching centres are minting money from students and promoting rote learning. In the higher secondary schools, too, the quality of teaching has gone down.”
Language teachers, however, said the move would create a level playing field for students who graduate from vernacular-medium schools. “Students of Odia-medium schools feel less confident. Though their concepts are clear, they cannot express themselves well in English and don’t score well,” said Debendra Pati, Odia teacher at DAV Public School, Chandraseharpur.