Degree colleges are planning to conduct entrance exams for admission to various undergraduate (UG) courses for the academic year 2021-22. Institutes said they may need to conduct these exams in order to maintain uniformity in admissions based on merit, as Class 12 board exams have been cancelled this year and the marking policy might be different for state and private boards. They said this would help avoid disparities in admission to higher education.
Ashok Wadia, principal of Jai Hind College, Churchgate, said, “We are considering the option. These exams will be conducted online and will include components related to specific UG programmes.” He said this is a backup plan and the college would wait for the assessment policy for Class 12 HSC students.
As of now, the Maharashtra state school education department has not declared the assessment policy for Class 12 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) board students. However, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) have announced the marking policy for Class 12 students.
In a meeting with state school education minister Varsha Gaikwad conducted on June 20, degree college heads suggested various patterns for Class 12 assessment policy. Neha Jagtiani, in-charge principal of RD National College, Bandra, said, “We suggested the 30:30:40 marking policy comprising 30 marks for performance in Class 10, 30 for Class 11 and 40 marks for Class 12.”
Jagtiani added, “We also suggested a 50:50 marking policy, including 50 marks for performance in Class 10 and 50 marks for Class 12 because lectures, exams and tests of Class 11 were conducted via online mode.” She said it may be difficult to conduct entrance exams, considering the Covid-19 situation, but a decision regarding admission to UG courses would be taken after the state announces the assessment policy.
