Telangana Universities expressed disinterest in joining CUET

HYDERABAD: While the Common University Entrance Test (CUET), which was started for admissions into central universities, is looking to expand its purview to state and private ones too, the varsities from Telangana are likely to skip it.
This year, 54 central universities, including the University of Hyderabad and English and Foreign Languages University, are conducting UG, PG, and PhD admissions through CUET. Discussions are underway with more than 30 state and private universities to bring them under its purview. While the exam is being conducted once this year, from next year NTA is planning to conduct the exam twice.
But officials from the Telangana State Higher Education Council (TSCHE) and vice-chancellors (VCs) of various varsities have said that there was no need for state universities to join the central plan as they already have a system in place.
TSCHE officials said that VCs from Telangana have already expressed their disinterest in joining CUET in the meeting with University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman in third week of April.
"While the Centre is trying to bring in a uniform admission system now, we already have a common system in place for undergraduate and postgraduate admissions for the past five and three years respectively," R Limbadri, chairman, TSCHE, told TOI.
He said that the state's system -- Degree Online Services, Telangana (DOST) and Post Graduate Common Entrance Test -- was much simpler and cheaper.
"Also, the fee for a test such as NEET is Rs 2,000, while students can register in DOST by paying Rs 200. Further, this is much simpler as admissions for all colleges in the state are conducted through this platform. When we already have a system in place, why should we join CUET?" asked Limbadri, adding that it was up to states whether or not to conduct admissions through CUET.
"We are already seeing what's happening with NEET. Our students are losing out as the syllabus is based on Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curriculum. If a common entrance test has to be conducted, first the curriculum from primary classes should be uniform across the country," said D Ravinder, VC, Osmania University, adding that the varsity has no interest in being part of CUET.
While T Ramesh, VC, Kakatiya University, said "When our system is working perfectly well what's the need to opt for a new system at UG and PG level."
He said that even for PhD programme, they have opted out this time as they did not want to cause further delay in admissions.
"After 2017, we have PhD notification this time. We did not want to delay the process further. Hence, we went forward with our admission process. Further, the last date for various scholarships was in the first week of June," he said.
D Ravinder, VC, Telangana University, added, "It is difficult for state varsities to implement CUET unless a policy decision is taken by the government. But students from the state can appear for the test and seek admission into various institutes through a single exam."