Big challenges before NTA, the examination agency conducting IIT JEE, NEET, CUET, what is the solution?

The functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA) has been under question for the last two-three years. But, the irregularities in the medical entrance test NEET 2024 completely exposed the weaknesses of the agency. In such a situation, when questions were raised, the Union Education Ministry first removed the Director General of the institution, then the well-known educationist Dr. K. A 7-member high-level committee was formed under the chairmanship of Radhakrishnan. Based on the committee report, the government has taken many important decisions, in which reducing the burden of NTA is truly a big step.

major challenges

It is true that NTA will no longer conduct any examination for recruitment, but will this reduce the challenges of the agency? Successfully implementing the examination reforms in 2025 will also be a big task for the government and the agency. Finding testing centers for computer mode especially in remote and rural areas and providing exam centers to students near their homes.

This is also a question of how to reduce the unnecessary pressure created by coaching centers on students? Question papers will have to be designed in such a way that the effect of robotic practice of coaching centers can be reduced.

brainstorm on mode

Most of the NTA examinations are conducted in computer based test i.e. CBT mode. Well CUET is conducted in pen and paper mode and in 2024, Common University Entrance Test (CUET) was conducted in pen and paper pattern along with CBT. Now JEE Main in January and CUET So, it is to be conducted in CBT mode only, but regarding NEET 2025, there is a dilemma going on between the Education Ministry and the Health Ministry as to how to conduct this exam.

According to estimates, there are 12 to 15 lakh applications in Engineering, more than 23 lakh applications in NEET UG and up to 15 lakh applications in UGC NET and CSIR UGC NET. Apart from these, there are many other examinations including four-year Integrated Teacher Education Programme, Graduate Aptitude Test of Biotechnology, Admission Test in Agriculture Courses, Management Test etc.

Difficulty in finding a center

The high level committee has suggested that there should be at least 1000 test secured standard testing centres. The student found testing centers in his/her district itself. Although it is not that easy. For computer based examination we will have to depend on private centres. Experience of the last few years says that there are server and connectivity problems at a large number of test centres. Due to this, the paper gets delayed and many times it has to be postponed.

NTA is able to find 300 to 400 test centers for computer test. Some of them also have to be blacklisted. If the medical entrance exam is also conducted in CBT mode, then many test centers will have to be searched. The process of normalization will also be a challenge. Because there will be different papers in different shifts.

What could be the solution?

Till now the agency was following the strategy of going it alone. But after the recommendation of the committee, the Education Ministry has decided that before finalizing whatever centers will be made for the entrance test, opinion will also be taken from the District Magistrate, local administration and local police. The help of local administration will be very useful in setting up a computer based test centre. It will be necessary to connect Kendriya Vidyalayas, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas. Also, it will become necessary to use mobile testing centers in remote areas.

habits have to be changed

The burden of examinations on NTA is high, but the staff is very less. Now recruitment has been done for director and other posts. Accountability of senior officers is being fixed. It will be the responsibility of the officers working in the country’s premier testing agency to maintain the credibility of NTA. his/her biggest responsibility will be towards the students, whose career is at stake. Before any exam, students should be given enough time so that they can prepare completely. The habit of changing rules at the last moment will have to be avoided.