The eligibility criterion of 60% marks in class XII for appearing in the IIT Joint Entrance Examination will be raised from next year to make students pay more attention to the board exam.
"The present criterion is that students need to secure 60% at class XII for appearing in IIT-JEE. This is not acceptable. The minimum marks required for IIT-JEE could be raised to 80 to 85%," HRD minister Kapil Sibal told reporters after a meeting of the IIT Council, the apex decision-making body for the elite institutes.
This decision comes on the heels of the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) deciding to de-emphasise the importance of board exams by making them optional for grade X students of the CBSE board. The CABE claims to have not been informed of this proposal.
Now, aspiring IIT-ians will have to study simultaneously for both their board exams and the IIT-JEE. Is this the correct way forward to ensure a brighter future for the youth, or would such a step place unnecessary stress on students?
Readers' comments:
Kapil Sibal,please have a look in the mirror & see what you want to do in IIT JEE. Most elite higher-education institutions systametically favour people from privileged backgrounds who display selfish, cutthroat behaviour. IIT academic credentials are different and it is trying hard to stop private coaching industry to compromise its reliability instruments. Do you want to destroy a great establishment with corrupt cronies for everyone?
Friday, October 23, 2009 14:04 IST
Chanchal Dutta, Kharagpur
The rationale being given by Mr Sibal and others is illogical. We have to undertand the objective of education. If the XII board exam preparation and preparation for IIT are not on the same lines and there is a gross misalignment then these people should look to fill the gaps. The XII exam is based on rota learning with no conceptual and analytical reasoning required. I fail to understand why Kapil Sibal is playig with the education system without any proper data points. He should be stoped from spoiling the education system of India.
Friday, October 23, 2009 11:18 IST
Amrish, Pune
The proposal is ill-thought out and probably targeted at grabbing media space for the minister. Students aiming to score high in JEE have to make a crucial decision after passing Xth std; on whether to primarily pursue school/ JC curriculum or coaching classes. There are thousands of these brighter ones; who are due for taking JEE in April 2011 and have already thrown in their lot with coaching classes. Mr Sibal is trying to shift the goal post after the match has started for these students. Mediocrity reigns in this country and the minister cannot tolerate one odd institution that seems to be working well outside government control.
Thursday, October 22, 2009 19:19 IST
sandeep, Mumbai
IIT teachers have been conducting JEE since 1955. Why do Kapil Sibal and other politicians interfere with JEE? Do they have any experience in holding JEE? Holding JEE in proper and correct manner is the headache of IIT directors. India has ranked high in corruption and to avoid such corruption IIT directors must take care and should not compromise with any one on holding JEE in an unfair manner.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 19:03 IST
Rama Biswas, West Lafayette
This move by Sibal is baseless, as IITJEE itself is a fool-proof method of testing eligible students. Also it has no co-relation with students' performance in 12th board exam, as IIT is altogether a different ball game. IIT coaching classes are really working very hard on students and are contributing a great value in enhancing human capital. Also many classes are waiving fees/ giving concessions to needy/ economically backward students, so to curb these classes is also a very timid explanation for his move. To conclude I would in fact say that make 12th board exams also optional for those who want to appear for IIT/PMT.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 12:10 IST
dr. d d dave, patan, n.gujarat
