SHILLONG, July 26: The Trinamool Congress on Sunday branded national entrance tests like CUET and NEET as “institutional barriers” that are systematically locking out Meghalaya’s tribal students from higher education due to a lack of local centers and reliable digital infrastructure.
TMC leader Richard M Marak said that while examinations such as the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) were introduced to ensure merit, they have instead created a rigid system that penalizes students from Scheduled Tribe (ST) and economically weaker backgrounds.
Marak highlighted the stark divide between national policy and local reality, stating that for students in remote areas like Baghmara or the Jaintia Hills, “Digital India” remains a myth. He noted that the requirement for online registrations and travel to distant exam centers creates a systemic exclusion of tribal youth who often have to travel hundreds of kilometers just to find a working internet café or an accessible venue.
“The allocation of examination centers based on university density rather than geographical accessibility places rural students at a significant disadvantage,” Marak said. He added that the financial burden extends far beyond application fees, forcing families to cover costs for coaching, digital devices, and expensive travel to centers in cities like Guwahati when local venues are full.
The TMC leader argued that the centralized entrance system overlooks regional histories and state-specific realities. He claimed the current model has turned education into an “assembly line” focused on rote learning and standardized testing rather than actual student development.
Calling for urgent reforms, Marak urged educational authorities to move away from high-stakes, single-day exams and adopt a holistic evaluation system that considers continuous academic performance and creative aptitude. He further demanded greater autonomy and resources for state universities to implement admission processes suited to local conditions.
Marak called on both the Centre and the state government to address these disparities to ensure that higher education remains an opportunity for learning rather than a barrier to the future of Meghalaya’s youth.
