Shri Kapil Sibal Moots Merging of CBSE Conducted PMT and AIEEE Exams

Shri Kapil Sibal Moots Merging of CBSE Conducted PMT and AIEEE Exams           

The Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Shri Kapil Sibal has said that the Ministry is considering the merging of the CBSE conducted Common Pre Medical Test and the All India Engineering Entrance Exam (AIEEE) so that students are saved the bother of sitting for two separate exams. While Physics and Chemistry will be common for both, the medical student can answer only the Biology paper and the engineering students the Maths paper. He was speaking at the Meeting of the State Education Ministers here today.

Shri Sibal also said that the Ministry was presently debating whether it is possible to have one common exam after class XII that will test general awareness and aptitude. For entrance to institutions, class XII marks and this test could be the criteria. The marks of different Boards could be equalised through a mathematical formula for weightage.

The common core curriculum required for removing disparity of syllabi that necessitate different entrance exams catering to different boards has already been developed by CBSE for Science and Maths, he added. This will give an opportunity to children from economically weaker sections who are not able to avail of coaching and get through the current system of entrance exams. But he underlined that this was just being debated at present, as the current system is being seen as unfair for the poor and the under privileged.

Shri Sibal also suggested that he was looking at setting up a National Institute for Assessment and Evaluation for the school systems in the country and their syllabi. For States, it would be voluntary to have themselves assessed by this institute. He also underlined that a curriculum framework for value education is required. He also called upon schools to give emphasis to physical education by having one class of PE every day.