Opinion divided over CET for state board junior colleges

Nagpur: The optional common entrance test (CET) for admission to state board affiliated junior colleges has evoked mixed reactions from academics.
The CET is being held because SSC (Std X) theory exams were cancelled this year due to Covid pandemic. So, to have a benchmark for admissions, the optional CET plan was devised.
Some academics in Nagpur feel that having a CET serves no purpose because of the supply-demand matrix prevalent in the region. A senior principal, who did not wish to be identified, said, “The purpose of having a CET is to choose the best available candidates for a limited number of seats. But in Nagpur, we have a huge number of seats vacant at the junior college level. In city alone, we have an average of 18,000 seats vacant, so there is no need for a CET.”
While the CET is optional, a few academics feel there will be pressure on them to go with CET. The principal said, “Let’s my school students apply for admission in a college and have really good marks. But that college may feel that the marks have not been appropriately given hence would want students to take a CET. I just feel this will unnecessarily add to the administrative and logistics burden.”
TOI spoke to a few more academics, but they too did not wish to speak on record, fearing it may ruffle feathers with both the education department and their peers.
A principal from a city junior college said, “I think CET is rather a good way. At least this way we can have a benchmark for students. Surely, everyone is guaranteed admission in junior college because of demand-supply situation, but then there is a race to get admitted in a government-aided section of college as fees are very less. If not, then the student joins the same college and same course but pays higher fee as he/she will fall in unaided seat pool.”