Parents echo woes over biannual entrance exams

MUMBAI: Union education minister Prakash Javadekar’s announcement on the setting up of a new agency, the national testing agency (NTA), to conduct engineering and medical entrance examinations, twice a year, has drawn mixed reactions from parents.

The CBSE  conducted these examinations, which will now be managed by the NTA. Moreover, instead of traditional pen-paper method, it would be online.

“The online system would favour students who are better at computers. Some may also crack codes and hack,” said a parent.

“Once-a-year exams puts pressure on students, because there is a year’s wait for the second attempt,” said Sheila Ramesh, parent of a JEE Main aspirant.

Jaya Rajan, another parent, said, “Two attempts a year would bring more students on the board. More students means more competition for admissions in engineering, IITs and medical colleges.”