Govt dithering on single CET may affect schedule

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), which conducts the Common Entrance Test (CET) for professional courses in the state, is in a quandary. Dates for the examination have already been set: April 28, 29 and 30. However, brochures cannot be printed until the government takes a final call on whether or not this examination will henceforth also be the criterion for admission to private colleges.

On December 11, 2009, state higher education minister Aravind Limbavali called a meeting with private college managements to discuss the issue of having a single CET for admission to both government and private colleges offering medical, dental and engineering degrees. Limbavali had announced that a committee would examine the concerns of managements of private colleges.
Little has materialised since. A month after that meeting, private college managements await the constitution of the committee.

Officials of the KEA said that if the examination should happen on the dates already fixed, then a notification for printing of the CET 2010 brochures should be made before February 5, 2010.

Brochures will then be expected by February 10, and they would be ready for dispatch to colleges by February 15. If the government delays a decision on the issue of the single CET, this time-table would go awry. Many engineering colleges in rural Karnataka responded to the minister's suggestion with great enthusiasm, and some of them even sent a representation to Limbavali in this
connection. However, they have still not received any response from the bureaucrats. Efforts continue to arrive at a consensus with the Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka, which offers the test for admission to many private colleges in the state.