For its maiden online entrance test, JNU authorities have roped in the National Testing Agency (NTA) to conduct the exam. In another step which will definitely be helpful for the candidates especially belonging to remote areas, the authorities have also decided to double the number of centres. Mock test centres will also be introduced to make candidates familiar with the online tests. In its 148th academic council meeting, the varsity authority also announced that in 2019-2020 admissions nearly 1080 M.Phil and Ph.D seats will be offered for enrollment. Last year 720 research seats were on offer for admission.
Meanwhile the JNU Entrance Exam otherwise referred to as JNUEE, which was supposed to be held on December 27-30, has been postponed. '...keeping in view the difficulties of students to write the examination in December,' the varsity has decided to conduct the online test in May 2019.
JNU is the first Central University to have collaborated with the NTA, which is in its maiden year of authority as well. In October, the varsity had said that it is in the process of hiring a private vendor for managing the centres where the exams will be conducted.
As the students' union and Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association (JNUTA) has been vehemently opposing its implementation, this mammoth online exercise, to churn out the brightest lots, will be the biggest deciding factor this year.
It 'negates a comprehensive evaluation of analytical, writing and other skills which are so very necessary, particularly in humanities and social sciences,' Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) said.
Underpinning their anguish on the postponement of exam and the MCQ pattern JNUTA said, 'an emergency meeting was scheduled for December 7......so that members of the Academic Council will have no time to apply their minds to the matters being taken up or to consult their colleagues whom they represent in the Council as Chairpersons and Deans.' ‘The administration kept pressurizing and threatening the teachers to prepare MCQs without giving them adequate justifications or time for preparation,' it further added.
A 12-member committee was formed in March this year to deliberate on the change in the mode of exam.
Last year more than 1 lakh candidates had appeared for the test.
So far, NTA will conduct its first exam, the National Eligibility Test, from December 18 to December 22.
(With Inputs From Agencies)
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