With the Centre on Tuesday saying the cancellation of the Class 12 CBSE Board examinations and no less than some state governments anticipated to comply with swimsuit, the main focus now shifts to undergraduate admissions, with the large query being: how will universities, which have historically based mostly their admissions on Class 12 examination outcomes, soak up college students this 12 months?
While saying the cancellation, the Union Government stated the Class 12 outcomes could be compiled as per “a well-defined objective criteria”.
Delhi University (DU), one of many largest universities within the nation, stated it will comply with this “merit” criterion for admission.
DU Acting Vice-Chancellor P C Joshi stated, “This decision has been taken in view of the unprecedented Covid situation. We are with the Government of India. Our admission criteria will strictly be based on merit. We will honour the Board’s criterion.”
Rajeev Gupta, Chairperson-Admissions, stated, “Whatever formula CBSE adopts, ultimately, they will declare results. We will declare cut-offs based on it.”
Every 12 months, DU conducts undergraduate admissions to most programs by cut-offs that are calculated, to a big extent, on the idea of Class 12 marks.
The college had earlier despatched a proposal to the University Grants Commission (UGC), based on which 50 per cent weightage may very well be given to the Class 12 marks and the remaining to a CUCET (Central Universities Common Entrance Test).
Joshi, DU’s Acting VC, who’s a part of a committee arrange by the Central authorities to think about a standard entrance take a look at for Central universities, had earlier stated that underneath this system, Class 12 marks may very well be calculated as percentiles as a substitute of percentages.
However, with the present scenario of the pandemic and the potential of a 3rd wave, DU officers stated it was unlikely that CUCET could be applied this 12 months, and subsequently, the CBSE criterion could be adopted whereas declaring cut-offs.
When requested if CUCET could be thought-about, DU’s Gupta advised The Indian Express, “We are committed to CUCET as and when it happens. The problem there too is that national-level examinations have to take place. Nobody is in a situation right now to answer how the situation will be in various cities and whether this exam can be held. In the larger of interest students, this is best possible option [to go by CBSE formula].”
Gupta stated DU will begin holding conferences and devise a plan after the CBSE pronounces its system for evaluation and declares the outcomes.
“Our admission process is pan-India. We cannot decide on the basis of on Board. We have to consider that some state Boards may declare results later in July or August. So we will have to delay our admission process accordingly. But it is possible that if CBSE takes this decision, other Boards may also follow suit,” he stated.
Hindu College Principal Anju Srivastava stated circumstances are “so difficult” that “any option other than merit” isn’t possible. “This decision to not have exams was because it was not possible to make students sit under one roof or in one place. So examination-based admissions will be a challenge. The most plausible option should be merit and we will honour that decision,” she stated.
Lady Shri Ram College Principal Suman Sharma too stated the Board’s resolution needs to be honoured given the circumstances. “All the stakeholders will now need to sit together and brainstorm on the best way to carry out admissions,” she stated.
Bijayalaxmi Nanda, Principal of Miranda House, stated that whereas Board criterion could be adopted this 12 months, school entrance exams needs to be thought-about sooner or later. “The school boards will decide a system of merit and standardisation which DU will follow. A combination of CUCET and Board marks may be feasible only next year. A standardised entrance test for all colleges combined with continuous assessment in the Boards is a good system to aspire for,” she stated.
Ramjas College Principal Manoj Khanna, nonetheless, stated given the distinction in requirements of inside evaluation, entrance exams needs to be thought-about for DU admissions. “If marks are determined on the basis of internal assessment, that is not a universal criterion across the country. So definitely we have to find some method – it could be some sort of an entrance exam – to evaluate students. Otherwise, it is next to impossible to conduct admissions,” he stated.
Ambedkar University, a Delhi state college which additionally declares cut-offs for undergraduate programs, welcomed the choice, calling it “timely”. “CBSE will provide the results of Class 12. The process of admission to UG programmes will be decided after consultations with the admission committee of the University,” stated the college PRO.