Several lecturers from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) expressed concern about the recently held Common University Entrance Test (CUET), calling it “chaotic and irresponsible”, which has eroded the university’s autonomy.
In a press conference, representatives of the JNU Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) claimed that the CUET-based system is causing insurmountable losses in teaching and learning for current and future generations, in addition to irreparably harming democratic and participatory governance in the university. The JNUTA teachers spoke about the extremely negative impact of the CUET-based admissions system on JNU’s education programs.
“The existence of the CUET has rendered it impossible to make admission decisions within the university, effectively undoing the parliament,” JNUTA said. The teachers also said the test also “strips the college acts.”
“In non-synchronized semesters, students in two intersecting semesters cannot choose the entire range of courses offered at the university at that time! For programs whose curriculum or syllabi heavily relies on the cross-listing of courses, this has proved disastrous,” the JNUTA added.
During a press conference, Professor Ayesha Kidwai said that JNU is a university that focuses on poor students. About half of our students are from rural India, coming from families with an income of less than Rs 12,000 per month, and they are women. “The delay in admission to universities participating in the CUET has actually caused an interruption in the education of these students. For those students among them who would depend on university scholarships to support themselves and their families, the lack of admission could most likely push them out of the education system altogether. In one fell swoop, the youth dividend, which we are often proud of, is lost,” Kidwai said.
“The main reason why JNU is in such a dire situation is the complete collapse of JNU’s legal bodies, mainly due to the previous government,” she added.
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