Modified On Jul 12, 2024 09:00 AM by Mahaveer, Views: 11
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is contemplating reverting to its original practice of conducting in-house entrance examinations for PhD admissions, potentially discontinuing its partnership with the National Testing Agency (NTA). This decision follows the Indian government's recent cancellation of the UGC National Eligibility Test (NET), citing concerns about exam integrity.
"We have initiated the process and are actively soliciting input from all stakeholders as we weigh this decision," remarked JNU’s Vice Chancellor, Santishree D Pandit.
Just a few months ago, the university had opted to accept NET scores for admissions, in accordance with the National Education Policy 2020, rather than relying on the NTA entrance test for PhD candidate selection. However, the sudden cancellation of the June 2024 NET has prompted a reassessment of this strategy.
On July 3, Santishree D Pandit initiated discussions regarding the revival of the university’s internal entrance examination system. This initiative has been embraced by the JNU Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) as validation of their longstanding stance on admission processes.
This year, JNU announced a modification in its admission process for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs. Starting from the current academic year, JNU has decided to consider National Eligibility Test (NET) scores instead of conducting its own entrance test, aligning with the directives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
On June 19, the Central Government cancelled a crucial examination used for entry-level teaching positions and PhD admissions in universities. This decision followed advisories from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which suggested that "the integrity of the examination may have been compromised."
In a statement, the JNU Teachers Association expressed their approval of the decisions made during the meeting of the Vice Chancellor and Deans of Schools on July 3, 2024. They also appreciated the decision to refer the matter to the faculty of Schools/Centres for their input and opinions.
The JNU Teachers' Association (JNUTA) views this development as validation of their longstanding stance on entrance examinations. They see it as a positive response to their specific demands, particularly in light of the cancellation of the June 2024 UGC-NET Examination.
