Panel bats for entrance test for admissions to varsities

Thiruvananthapuram: The examination reforms commission appointed by the state higher education department has recommended the government to conduct admission to undergraduate and postgraduate courses in universities through separate entrance examinations. The entrance test dates should be finalized by universities through mutual understanding.
The commission also urged the government to stop considering classroom attendance as a criterion for evaluation of a student’s academic performance. The commission submitted its final recommendations to the government on Thursday. Another major recommendation of the commission is that all universities should be equipped to publish degree examination results within one month after the examination and distribute certificates in another 15 days.
The commission recommended implementation of Outcome Based Education (OBE). Universities should devise evaluation methods suitable for each course, depending on the specific objectives set for the course. All universities should set up syllabus development centres to train teachers to achieve the objectives of OBE. When OBE is strictly followed, the weightage to internal valuation should be increased to at least 40% of the total weightage. All universities should follow a similar grading pattern. UGC recommended a 10-point score grading, which is a model worth emulating.
At the same time, there should be no minimum mark for students to clear the internal assessment tests. Unless for natural calamities, university examinations should be conducted on time and as per schedule.
Higher education minister R Bindu, after receiving the report, said the government was committed to implement the recommendations of the commission by setting up an executive council.