Time-5:00
AM
Place-A
study room of an engineering aspirant residing in a small town in UP
Praveen
Singh woke up at 4:30 AM and got an early morning scolding as a Christmas
present from his mother for not waking up half an early and got a warning that
he will have no other choice to take an occupation of a “vegetable vendor” if
he is unable to clear IITJEE this year. Praveen left the home at 5:30 AM on his
bicycle for coaching classes where he was preparing for his engineering
entrance exam. He has been going to the coaching classes from last 2 years and
putting in a lot of effort towards his goal. He comes back at 9:00 AM from
class and straight away went to his room to complete his assignments. He came
out of his room at 1:00 PM and left the house to go to another coaching class which
he has joined recently to prepare for the newly proposed (but not surely
implemented) “main test” of entrance exam. His classes ended at 5:00 PM and he
raced his bicycle to tuition where he was preparing for his board exams. He
reached his home at 8:00 PM and entered the drawing room where his father was
watching the idiot box. There was a debate on a news channel to discuss on the
new pattern of engineering entrance exams which will be implemented in the
coming year. The discussion panel which comprised of IIT professors, coaching
institute’s faculty and school principals was still confused that which pattern
is good and when it should be implemented. Praveen’s father instructed him to
go to his study room to prepare for his pre-board exams which will e held next
month. He also reminded him that he should also focus on his board exams as it
can also play a crucial role in getting selected in a good college if the new
pattern is implemented. He left the drawing room and the last voice which he
heard of the debate was of Mr.Kapil Sibbal saying that they are planning to
bring about the changes” to lower down the burden of students.”This brought a faint
smile on Praveen’s face and he started to study and prepare himself for another
grueling day tomorrow.
This
is the condition of all the engineering aspirants in the country after our
education minister has presented his lame proposal for a common entrance test
and in response of which different IITs have been announcing about their own
common test. The students are in a dilemma that how to prepare and where to
focus. The pattern is still not clear and the exam is just few months away.
Mr.Sibbal has not even once thought of the students who will be the one facing
the major outcome of this decision, rather he is arguing with IIT management
and not putting forward a clear picture so that students should start preparing
accordingly. If this remains the situation for the next few months, the
pressure on students is going to increase as they will be confused about on
what basis are they going to get admissions in colleges.
Mr.Sibbal
has proposed the consideration of board exams and made it a major role playing
factor in getting admissions but has not made clear that how the marks of
different boards going to be compared. He has also not made it mandatory for
the private universities to take part in common entrance test. For sure, the
private universities will be going to take their own test as they earn a
handsome amount from the sale of their test forms. He is also unable to
convince the IITs to be a part of the proposed test pattern. Collectively which
creates a situation of pressure cooker in the mind of a student and he is left
running from one coaching institute to another aiming to pass the test and get
to his dream institution. So the main aim of Mr.Sibbal’s plan which was to
close the coaching institute and to force the students to attend schools has
bombarded. This plan will be increasing the revenue for coaching classes as
more and more students will be attracted towards them to learn the new pattern
and they will be skipping more school in order to devote their time at these
coaching classes.
At
last I just want to say that this decision should be taken as soon as possible
so that students prepare for the test with a calm and cool mind. The decision
of the students who will be playing a crucial part in the development of
country tomorrow should not go wrong just by a foolishness of a minister. The
wise and experienced people should come forward and take the decision quickly
and remove the dilemma of students.
