Just yesterday, IIT Bombay released a report saying that this year the state-wise highest intake of students in IITs was from Rajasthan. In parallel to this, the RBSE (Raj Board of Secondary Education) has been mulling over a proposal to manage the number of students opting for science in class XI through an aptitude test. The test will be designed to filter students interested in science in the earlier classes. It will thus help to keep up the state’s image of being the highest producer of IITians. However, there have been mixed reactions to this initiative. Students have been shuddering over the idea of another test to ace, while professors are apprehensive over the purpose of such filtering. Here is a 2-part series about how the RBSE move, if implemented, will affect different players in engineering.

The RBSE move falls in contradiction to HRD Minister Smriti
Irani’s proposal of single point entrance exam to IIT, NIT and IIITs. While Irani
aims to reduce the stress of students applying to top engineering institutes,
the RBSE’s actions might make the testing process unfair to students from
Rajasthan Board. Prem Singh Sisodia, Asst. Director, RBSE says, “The aptitude
exam, if implemented from next year, will only help filter students interested
in science so that they can be further motivated to apply to IITs.” However,
what about those who, through the aptitude test, are not deemed fit for science?
Is it fair to judge the student’s calibre for science based on an aptitude
test, the likes of which are available in thousands in different forms? If that
is so, the exam should be more challenging and directed, so as to reveal the so
called ‘smartest’ of students.

On the other hand, professors in Rajasthan are debating the
drive behind starting an aptitude test. Deepa Purohit, secondary teacher at
Vidya Niketan School, Rajasthan, opines, “This test will impose added stress on
students who are already loaded with JEE preparations. An aptitude exam is not
a strong enough testing ground for students as compared to JEE, which is considered
one of the most difficult entrance exams globally. Hence the purpose of
starting such a test is moot.”

Many students head into their JEE preparations since class 6th
and join one of the coaching classes in Rajasthan, either dropping out of
their own school, or taking after school tuitions. Parth Bhatt, studying in
RBSE class X, says, “Since Kota is known for JEE preparations, my family moved
here when I was in 8th Std. to provide me with the best tutorials. The
pressure to perform is constantly kept alive by the coaching professors. If
this aptitude test is inducted, it will increase my study burden, but at the
same time may help me recognise my strengths and weaknesses.”

Thus, the RBSE suggested aptitude test may receive quite some
revolt before it takes shape for good. Several parameters need to be resolved
so as to pacify the daunting questions from students and professors alike,
leave alone the raised eyebrows of the HRD officials.  

You can read Part 2 of this series here.