Telangana may scrap Eamcet from 2016

State may replace the entrance exam with intermediate (Class XII) score for admissions in professional colleges

As part of its efforts to streamline education processes and make them more inclusive, the Telangana government is actively considering scrapping the Eamcet entrance exam from 2016-17 academic year and replacing it with intermediate (Class XII) score for admissions in professional colleges in the state.

A senior government official in the department of education, who wished not to be named, said the state government was considering making big reforms in education, and as part of it, “we would like to bring changes in the Eamcet process, like scrapping it and making intermediate score the sole criterion from the next academic year onwards.”

The move, he said, was to “minimise the corporate influence in education in the state and to provide relief to students coming from villages”.

Terming the state of professional education quite alarming, he said the previous establishments ignored the cause of students and were fully biased in favour of college establishments.

At present, for admissions in engineering colleges in both Telangana and AP, the intermediate score has a 25 per cent weightage for calculation of Eamcet ranks. While the Andhra government has not taken any steps to change the existing rules, the Telangana government and educationists here have been pitching for transformational changes.

Speaking to Business Standard, Professor Haragopal of University of Hyderabad said he welcomed the idea, and suggested the government should impart skill development and vocational courses in a big way to improve the employability of engineering graduates.

Educationist Chukka Ramaiah said Eamcet had lost its relevance as a majority of colleges in both Andhra and Telangana lacked quality infrastructure and had been applying for closure. He said in his meeting with chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, he had proposed for greater role of the state and for restructuring the professional education to encourage marginal sections of society.

Meanwhile, Telangana State Council for Higher Education today announced Eamcet this year would be held on May 14. Applications will be accepted from Feb 28-Apr 9. TSCHE chairman T Papi Reddy said the council had not earmarked any examination centres in Andhra Pradesh, and added students have to come here to take the exam.