- The Indian countrymen are not new to the bane of corruption permeating every walk of life. We are so used to the aspect of corruption in our day-to-day lives that it no longer perturbs or causes us to feel shameful, embarrassed, or disillusioned if any scams arise. Most of us would have developed a stoic acceptance of the fact that corruption will be an integral part of our existence and as such, it’s better to live with it rather than make hue and cry about the same. We are aware of how the political class time and again attempts in vain to impress upon the need to usher in clean administration. But the rhetoric-laden attempts no longer cut the ice since the people have realized the futility of the political leader’s exhortations are hollow, lacking intent and substance.
PC: Hindustan Times
- Even the entrance examinations for admissions into some of the professional courses have been penetrated by corrupt officials, middlemen, and dubious elements thereby severely harming the lives of millions of students aspiring to get into these institutions. The entire country is witness to the fiasco of NEET exams under the aegis of the National Testing Agency (NTA). Allegations that this year’s NEET-UG was a compromised affair have been validated since CBI began probing the matter. That irregularities have been reported from several states should leave no one in doubt about the terrible safety protocols followed by NTA. What are the measures to be adopted that could help the NTA to redeem the tarnished reputation? To begin with, NEET should follow the JEE test model that uses offline computers and two-level examinations.
- It is all very well to make arrests. But what about the very nature of the exam? To have 2.4mn students take it in offline mode on one single day across India is a recipe for trouble. Ask the experts. By one reckoning, there are as many as 11 points of human interface for paper-based NEET. Thus, the potential for leakage and manipulation in a high-stakes exam is huge. It’s good that the government is considering doing away with offline mode for NEET. But this should not mean switching to online exams. Rich countries like the USA with its huge infrastructure can do it, we cannot. So, what should be the way forward then? What we need are computer-based tests, as is the case for JEE-CBTs involving the use of a computer at a designated center, but no internet.
PC: India.com
- But a simple switch to CBT won’t be enough. Most important in this context are the credentials of exam centers. There have been cases of cheating and impersonation even in JEE. Still, CBTs have evolved into a scientific discipline and there are reputable companies in the business. IIMs have used the services of such entities to conduct a fair CAT for years. There is no reason NTA cannot do the same. Proper use of technology for safety protocols and ensuring examinees answer a random set of questions drawn from a bank should be explored. Screening tests for NEET must be considered. Conducting more than one NEET should be considered too. Most importantly, trust among the aspiring students must be built up expeditiously.
