SHILLONG, April 21: A consultation meet convened by the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) with the principals and heads of institutes on Thursday decided to go ahead with the Common University Entrance Test (CUET), 2022.
Education Minister, Lahkmen Rymbui was also present at the meeting.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, NEHU Vice Chancellor, Prabha Shankar Shukla said they have taken a unanimous decision to implement the CUET-2022.
He said that they would sit together to discuss problems likely to crop up during the conduct of the entrance test and try to find solutions.
NEHU Public Relations Officer (PRO), Davidson Pyngrope said the state government has endorsed the decision which will benefit the student community of the state in the long run.
According to the PRO, it is now mandatory for the students to appear for the common entrance test to seek admission in colleges affiliated to NEHU.
He pointed out that the decision taken by NEHU was in compliance with the directive of the University Grants Commissions.
RM Manih, Principal of Union Christian College, said many head of institutes have expressed apprehension about the infrastructure which needs to be put in place to conduct the online test. He mentioned that the state government has assured to set up examination centres in all the districts.
RM Lyngdoh, Principal of Synod College, said students hailing from rural areas would face problems in accessing computers to appear in the entrance test.
NEHU will admit students to various undergraduate courses in colleges affiliated t the varsity Colleges affiliated to it based on the CUET score. The online test will be conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) before the start of the new academic session (2022-23).
The registration process for CUET is under way and the last date for students to complete the process has been fixed as May 6, 2022.
Speaking on the CUET, the Education minister said the state government is in talks with the Centre but students have to sit for the test since it will be the only option available to them to seek admission in undergraduate courses in central universities.
“We had sent the Additional Chief Secretary of Education to Delhi yesterday to attend a meeting with the officers there and what we understand is that the test is compulsory. The officials have given a verbal assurance to set up testing centres in all the district headquarters,” he said, adding that presently there is only one one examination centre at Qualapatty with a capacity of 300 per shift.
“I urge the principals to explain to students what needs to be done if they want to pursue courses in colleges affiliated to central university,” he said.
