SHILLONG, May 19: The mismanagement during the recent conduct of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) UG, 2024 at the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) and resultant sufferings of the students made some organisations demand that the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Centre exempt Meghalaya from this examination.
The North East Indigenous People’s Forum (NEIPF) said many students had failed to appear for the examination.
“We are concerned over the manner in which the entrance examination was conducted. The students had to suffer due to the mismanagement and failure of the NEHU authorities in conducting the examination,” Wellbirth Rani, who is NEIPF’s Meghalaya chapter chairman, said in a statement.
He said the forum learnt that many students from Ri-Bhoi, West Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills and other districts could not sit for the test as there was delay in holding it at the NEHU.
He said many students were not aware that appearance in CUET is mandatory as several colleges started issuing forms for admission.
Rani alleged that there were serious lapses on the part of the NTA. He said the subjects mentioned in the admit cards of many students were not what they had selected.
“How can the students write on a subject which they had not selected?” he asked.
Rani said the state government should not have agreed to hold CUET without ensuring centres at the subdivisional level. It is difficult for students to travel to Shillong, Jowai or Tura to appear for the examination, he said.
Meanwhile, the students’ wing of Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization also also demanded the state’s exemption from CUET and the removal of the requirement of CUET for admission into educational institutions.
“The recent chaos surrounding the CUET examination has highlighted the inadequacy of the state’s preparation to host such examinations,” the HITO said in a statement.
It also said that as Meghalaya is not fully equipped to conduct this examination, it had thrown up significant challenges to the students, especially those who are from rural areas with limited financial resources.
“The lack of infrastructure and examination centres caused inconveniences and financial burdens to many aspiring students,” the HITO said.
Stating that it is unfair to enforce a policy without proper preparation, the organisation said it had earlier held a discussion with then Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui and he assured that Meghalaya would be exempted from CUET and that students from the state would not be required to present their marks obtained in CUET for admission.
The organisation urged the government to honour this commitment.
