Highlights:
- Delhi University (DU), has stated that it will use this “merit” criterion for admission.
- According to DU Acting Vice-Chancellor P C Joshi, “This decision was made in light of the unprecedented Covid situation.”
- Delhi University had previously submitted a proposal to the UGC that suggested giving Class 12th marks 50% weighting and the remaining to a CUCET.
With the cancellation of the Class 12 CBSE Board examinations announced by the Centre on Tuesday, and at least some state governments are expected to follow the suit, the focus now shifts to undergraduate admissions, with the big question being: how will universities that have traditionally based their admissions on Class 12 exam results take in students this year?
The Union Government stated that the Class 12 results would be compiled using “well-defined objective criteria” while announcing the cancellation.
One of the country’s largest universities, Delhi University (DU), has stated that it will use this “merit” criterion for admission.
“This decision was made in light of the unprecedented Covid situation,” stated DU Acting Vice-Chancellor P C Joshi. We are working with the Indian government. Our admissions criteria will be entirely merit-based. The Board’s criterion will be followed.”
“Whatever technique CBSE adopts, they will eventually declare results,” said Rajeev Gupta, Chairperson-Admissions. We’ll set cut-offs depending on that.”
Also Read: Government Panel To Study Whether Single-Dose Covishield Provides Enough Protection Against Covid-19
CBSE students make for nearly 98 percent of Delhi University applicants.
Every year, DU conducts undergraduate admissions to the majority of courses based on cut-offs that are largely based on Class 12 scores.
The university had previously submitted a proposal to the University Grants Commission (UGC) that suggested giving Class 12 marks 50% weighting and the remainder to a CUCET (Central Universities Common Entrance Test).
Joshi, DU’s Acting VC, had stated that under this method, Class 12 scores might be evaluated as percentiles rather than percentages. Joshi is a member of a committee set up by the Central government to propose a common entrance examination for Central universities.
However, given the current state of the pandemic and the potential of a third wave, DU authorities believe CUCET will not be implemented this year, and that the CBSE criterion would be used to determine cut-offs.
“We are dedicated to CUCET as and when it happens,” DU’s Gupta said when asked if CUCET would be considered. There is also the issue of having to hold national-level examinations. Nobody is in a position to say how the scenario will play out in different cities or whether the exam will be held. This is the best conceivable alternative [to follow the CBSE formula] for the majority of interested students.”
After the CBSE reveals its assessment formula and reveals the results, Gupta says DU will begin holding meetings and devising a plan.
“We have a pan-India admissions process. We can’t make a decision just on the basis of Board. We must keep in mind that certain state boards may announce results in July or August. As a result, we’ll have to postpone our admissions procedure. However, if the CBSE makes this decision, other boards may follow suit,” he added.
Anju Srivastava, the principal of Hindu College, said the situation is “so difficult” that “any choice other than merit” is not an option. “It was impossible to force students to sit under one roof or in one location, so we decided not to hold exams. As a result, exam-based admissions will be difficult. “Merit should be the most feasible option, and we will respect that decision,” she said.
Suman Sharma, the principal of Lady Shri Ram College, agreed that the Board’s decision should be respected in the circumstances. “It’s now up to all stakeholders to sit together and discuss the best way to handle admissions,” she said.
While the Board criteria would be followed this year, Bijayalaxmi Nanda, Principal of Miranda House, believes that in the future, college entrance tests should be used. “The school boards will decide on a merit-based and standardisation method that DU will use. Only next year will it be possible to combine CUCET and Board results. A good method to aim for is a standardised entrance exam for all colleges, paired with continual assessment in the Boards,” she stated.
However, Ramjas College Principal Manoj Khanna believes that, due to the disparity in internal assessment criteria, entrance tests should be considered for DU admissions. Mr. Khanna said, “If marks are decided based on internal evaluation, that is not a universal standard across the country. So, we’ll have to come up with a way to evaluate students, which may be something like an admission exam. Admissions would be nearly hard to perform otherwise.”
Ambedkar University, a Delhi state university that also announces undergraduate cut-offs, applauded the decision, calling it “appropriate.” “The Class 12 results will be provided by the CBSE. The admissions process for undergraduate programmes will be decided after discussion with the university’s admission committee,” stated the university’s public relations officer (PRO).
