Has CET outlived its utility – Part 2?
The term “untouchable” used in the context of engineering colleges needs elaboration. There is caste system existing among the colleges, which is ably assisted and abetted by the ill-conceived CET system. The colleges are informally categorized into three grades; the ‘top grade’ colleges, ‘2nd rung’ colleges and the ‘ordinary’ colleges. There may be about 15 colleges which are treated as top grade and another 20% as 2nd rung and the remaining bulk are the ordinary colleges. Really, there is no basis for this division; but it exists because of people’s perception. How such perceptions are formed needs a deeper investigation. The top grade colleges are those which are in existence for over 20 to 30 years. In the formative years of these colleges, there was acute shortage of engineering seats and only good and meritorious students could get admission to those colleges. Hence they produced good engineers and their reputation soared in the eye of the public. The present CET system helps in retaining that reputation by its skewed method of seat allocation. The 2nd rung colleges are those which are not that old, but established in the early nineties by rich politicians and business families. In those days, starting an engineering college was considered as a thriving business with the prevalence of capitation fee and what not. These colleges, by virtue of their financial strength have put up massive infrastructure in terms of a five star kind of a campus. This flashy outlook attracts admissions. The ordinary colleges are the ones put up by other smaller fishes, who could barely invest to provide essential infrastructure to conduct classes without any extra frills.
What is the effect of this hierarchy on the admission process? The real bright ones, among those aspiring for engineering seats, would qualify for IIT in IITJEE and secure their chosen branch of engineering. It is the bulk of the rest who vie for the CET seats which are wholly managed and controlled by the state Govts. All qualifying students at CET are given ranks, aimed at providing preferential treatment to those who do well in CET. The ranking and the subsequent counseling based on it, is the undoing of the CET system. Seat allocation is highly skewed in favor of the top rung colleges that it attracts all meritorious students. Their seats get filled fully even before many colleges get even a single student allotted. Some of these colleges have also increased their capacity by starting evening classes. Thus the crème of CET, say upto the rank of 4000 get allotted to the reputed colleges and so they continue to do well. Others who could not make it to the top grade do manage to the second rung colleges or they accept management seats in the college of their choice. In this manner the top half of the aspirants get accommodated.
About the Author;
This article has been written by Col NPR Babu(Retd), Director Academics at SCT Institute of Technology, offers aeronautical engineering colleges in Bangalore.
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