PUNE: Can a student with just one mark (out of 200 marks) in Common Entrance Test (MHT-CET) get an admission to degree engineering course?  The answer, shockingly, is `yes`. The rule and the prevailing situation in engineering admissions point to this unimaginable possibility becoming a reality, negating the very purpose of the CET.

MHT-CET for engineering was introduced as a qualifying exam to reduce undue importance to HSC exam. MHT-CET tests the student's aptitude in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM) through objective type questions of 200 marks. For admissions into six autonomous engineering colleges students need to have 50 % marks in PCM group in HSC exam and 110 score in CET. But for other engineering colleges CET score is immaterial. All that the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) rule expects is non zero score in PCM subjects added together in the CET.

The unimaginable possibility of a student with one mark in CET getting engineering seat seems shockingly possible thanks to this non-zero score provision.

Sample this - in 2009-2010, a student with 23 score (out of 200 marks) in reserved category and another student with 26 score in open category were eligible for admission in the last round of Centralised Admission Process (CAP). In 2008-09, a student with just 14 marks in CET was listed as a eligible candidate in CAP-IV round.

Experts well acquainted with the process claim that the situation is worrisome at post-CAP admissions done at the institute level.

The CET score goes for a toss at this stage, says Harish Butle, secretary,  District Entrance Exam Performance Enhancement and Research (DEEPER). “As majority of engineering colleges are owned by politicians they want students at any cost to mint money. Non zero score provision feeds enough students to these mushrooming colleges,” he said.

COEP CHIEF SUPPORTS IT

Anil Sahasrabuddhe, director, College of Engineering, Pune, (COEP) an autonomous engineering college, batted for minimum score norm in CET for admissions to all engineering colleges. He said, “System of CET has completely failed to deliver. In other states where CET has negative marking, students with minus marks get an engineering seat. Mushrooming engineering colleges have deteriorated the quality.

How can a student with 20 marks in CET cope with engineering syllabus? Ideally, for engineering admission PCM score in HSC should be minimum 60-65 % and CET score should be 50 per cent. A system of once a year entrance exam should also be scrapped. Students should be allowed to give on line exam as and when they are prepared.”

QUALITY HIT: DTE DIRECTOR

Directorate of Technical Education, director, S K Mahajan admitted that engineering admissions should have minimum CET score threshold to ensure quality. He however pleaded helplessness in view of growing demand for engineering courses. Mahajan said, “Students demand as well as number of seats are on rise every year. Leave aside minimum CET score, colleges want us to lower the bar for PCM score in HSC from 50 % to 45 %. DTE has turned it down. Though CET score norm is desirable, it is unlikely in coming years.”

SIBAL HINTS AT REFORMS

In a recent meeting of education ministers of all states, Human Resource Development minister Kapil Sibal has hinted at `restoring the weightage that must be accorded to performance in Class 12 in entrance tests for professional courses`. “It would minimise the current inequality in access to such courses of study due to dominating influence of expensive preparatory coaching,” he maintained.