Changes in IIT-JEE and AIEEE

Few days back, there was news in the media that there is going to be a single entrance examination for the admissions in all engineering institutes across the country including IITs, NITs, Central and State institutes. IIT-JEE and AIEEE will be merged together in 2013. Along with this, there are some other interesting proposals on the table. I would like to discuss some of them: 

• Weightage to the Marks of +2 standards: The entrance exam will not be given 100 % weightage. Marks obtained in entrance exam and in the +2 standard, together are going to decide the final merit list for admissions. The relative weightage of both can vary from institute to institute (IITs, State Colleges, and NITs). Proposed weightage for IITs is 40 %. This step is taken to reduce the effect of coaching institutes. Now, the big question is how to normalize marks of all the boards across the country. “Sources” in the media are telling that some formula has been created for normalizing 12th class marks across all boards. If some formula is there, then, why not make it public? Why is there so much secrecy about it? Let’s make it public so that experts and students can discuss it, hence, can comment on its merits and demerits. Why is MHRD in so much hurry? Has the matter been discussed with all the boards who are supposed to adopt this formula? Let’s 1st bring that “secret” formula on the table, see its applicability for a year. Then, analyze the results next year. Cheating in some of the boards exams is not a secret anymore. There may be a need to scrap some open and/or state boards for a fair deal for the students. The goal is that the student should take the school education seriously and not blindly prepare for the entrance exam. I am not sure; this is the right approach. Without improving things at grass root level, how government is expecting students to improve. 
• SAT type Test: The model opted for common entrance exam is based on the SAT exam, used for admission in colleges at United States of America. Hence, it is likely to be held online in coming years, may be from 2014. And, a professional organization like ETS is going to conduct this. It seems to be a good step. But before implementing it, we need to ensure that students get sufficient exposure to computer education and online system at school. Do we have enough infrastructures for this? I believe, no. In 2009 (I am not sure about year), an 18-year old boy from Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh managed to secure 453 rank in IIT-JEE with not enough to eat, and no money even to burn the midnight oil, in a village with hardly nine hours daily power supply. In present system, we used to hear some of these inspiring stories ever year. Can we provide computer education to these deprived but extremely talented students with the existing infrastructure in most government schools (where they are studying)? Aren’t we making things impossible for under-privileged class of the society? Why not wait for some years and improve education at school level? In some years, we will come to know the impact of Right to Education law also. 
• One exam; less stress: MHRD is very keen to reduce stress on students due to multiple exams, hence, merger of AIEEE and IIT-JEE is proposed. Will this really help? I have doubts about it. If MHRD really wants to reduce stress, then, GRE style model should be adopted, where a student can take exam multiple times until he/she is not satisfied with performance. Proposal is silent on this point. There is no clarity about this issue. Nobody wants to explain how one exam means less stress. 
• Is it right to merge so many institutes in one exam: I don’t see much issue with this. CAT has been working quite well over the years. So, it’s well known that this can be done easily. 

All in all, on the paper, proposal looks exciting. Decreasing quality of students at engineering college is surely an issue. It must be tackled. But MHRD is proceeding in a “typical” government style. Aren’t we creating a cart without having the horse? This can further worsen the situation. Why is there so much hurry? Quality can’t be improved over night. It's unreasonable to expect that 2013 batch students would be of better quality simply because they would be forced to adopt something new. Let’s be reasonable with students and move step-by-step.