5,000 students can’t take MBA-CET

Even if you scored a first class in graduation through correspondence, you will not be qualified to appear for the state-level common entrance test for the much sought after MBA course.In a recent notification issued by the directorate of technical education (DTE), only those who have graduated with a full-time Bachelors degree will be able to appear for the test to be conducted on February 21.The last minute announcement has dashed the hopes of as many as 5,000 aspirants. “The notification has come without warning. Until last year, we were eligible to appear for the exam and I have been preparing for it since. It is outrageous that my degree is not valid even though I have scored well,” said Bharat Pandey, who did BCom through correspondence from the University of Mumbai.In a further tightening of eligibility criteria, only candidates who have passed with a minimum of 50% can now take the test, as against the 45% requirement in 2009. “I have scored 47% in Bachelors in Management Studies (BMS) course and had been relying on the state-level entrance test to get admission to a MBA programme. We are planning to write to the authorities to change the minimum score criteria,” said Manav Wagh, an aspirant.A source in the DTE said that the decision was taken at a meeting held in December. “The eligibility criteria were changed mainlty to raise the quality of candidates,” he said.“Even the IIMs accept students who have graduated through distance education, so why not the state MBA-CET?” said Arks Srinivas, director, Triumphant Institute of Management Education (TIME), a training centre for MBA aspirants.“Several students from poor financial backgrounds complete their degrees through part time courses,” said Parag Chitale,  director of CPLC, another training institute.“This move will discourage the economically weak students from aiming high,” said Gulnar Sharma, director of Janki Devi Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, SNDT University.