CUET Does Not Infringe Upon The Rights Of States And UTs: Dharmendra Pradhan
Bhubaneswar: April 25: CUET does not infringe upon the rights of the states and the union territories, Union Education said through a letter to the Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy.
In the letter, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, ‘National Education Policy 2020 has been finalized and issued after a detailed and highly participative consultation process with various stoke holders. National Policy on Education 1968 and National Policy on Education 1986 / 1992 have been the guiding documents for the policies of the Central Government in the Education Sector. National Education Policy 2020 may be seen as a continuum of earlier education policies’.
Further, he added, NEP, 2020 emphasizes the regular formative assessment for learning rather than the summative assessment that encourages today’s ‘Coaching’ culture. Hence, Common University Entrance Test (CUET) has been introduced in pursuance of the National Education Policy, 2020.
Minister wrote, ‘Students may apply to more than one university as per their choice with one application form thereby reducing the financial burden and increasing access. They have the choice to appear in the entrance examination in any of the 13 languages with a choice of selecting examination centers from over hundreds of examination centers across the country’.
‘Since there is wide variation in the marking pattern of different state boards, CUET provides for entrance solely on the CUET marks. These exams shall test conceptual understanding and the ability to apply knowledge and shall aim to eliminate the need for taking coaching for these exams’, Pradhan said.
He further added, the Syllabus for undergraduate level entrance examination is based on the understanding of subject at class XII level, irrespective of affiliations to any board like CBSE, thereby benefiting the Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs).
Besides, the marks Of the class twelve examination have been considered for eligibility for the exam. It is left up to individual universities and colleges to use NTA assessments for their admissions, he said.
Minister further said in his letter, ‘National Education Policies issued from time to time always recognized the role of both the Central Governments and State Governments on the matter of Education Sector in the country. NPE, 1968 which was issued before, 42nd Constitution Amendment Act speaks about coordinated action on part of States and Centre. NPE, 1986, which was issued after 42nd Amendment Act, in para 3.13 clearly recognizes the role and responsibility of States and UTs. Similarly in continuation with the earlier Policies NEP, 2020 in para 26 and 27, lays emphasis on the role of both Central and State Governments’.
