GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

Context

The introduction of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for undergraduate and postgraduate admissions in all central universities and affiliated colleges aims to streamline the admission process and address issues of inequality and stress associated with multiple entrance exams.

Introduction of CUET

• Replacement: The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) aims to replace multiple entrance exams with a single-window examination for admissions in central universities and affiliated colleges.
• Equal opportunity for all: CUET seeks to reduce mental stress for students by concentrating their energy on one exam, ensuring equal opportunities for candidates from diverse backgrounds and standardizing the selection process.
• Simplification: The introduction of CUET is viewed as a positive step towards simplifying the admission process and enhancing accessibility to higher education institutes across the country.

Challenges and Concerns

• Challenges for inclusivity: Despite its benefits, CUET may exacerbate coaching class culture and privilege, posing challenges of inclusivity for students from marginalised backgrounds who lack access to coaching centres.
• Limiting assessment: The reliance on multiple-choice questions (MCQs) in CUET may limit the assessment of competencies and influence teaching-learning processes, potentially shifting educational focus away from holistic learning.
• Disadvantages: CUET's national-level curriculum may disadvantage students from state boards with diverse curricula, raising concerns about fairness and equity in the selection process.

Considerations for Successful Implementation

• Collaboration: CUET implementation requires collaboration among key stakeholders, including teachers, practitioners, and policymakers, to ensure a comprehensive and informed assessment aligned with subject-specific competencies.
• Subject-specific competencies: Emphasis should be placed on subject-specific competencies in classroom pedagogy and assessment to equip students for critical application of knowledge, reducing reliance on additional coaching for exam performance.
• Careful navigation: Successful implementation of CUET necessitates careful navigation of potential challenges through stakeholder engagement, prioritization of subject-specific competencies, and alignment with diverse state board curricula.