Students appear the HSLC/HSSLC Exam 2017 recently conducted by NBSE in Dimapur. (Photo by Manen Aier)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 11
After appearing the recently concluded HSLC and HSSLC exams conducted by Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) under trying circumstances, students in the state are faced with a big question mark.
Can they make the cut for admission to various technical exams and institutions of repute within and outside the state?
Thousands of students who appeared the HSLC and HSSLC exams this year had a harrowing time concentrating and preparing for their exams due to the statewide bandh called by the JCC and NTAC. The bandh coincided with the exam period.
Even as the students have right away enrolled themselves in private institutes and coaching centres to prepare for upcoming exams like JEE (engineering) and AIPMT (medical) while waiting for class 12 results, many are haunted with the feeling that they could have done better if the exams were held in peaceful and secure environment.
“I am preparing for both AIPMT and JEE exams. But I am not sure anymore if my class 12 marks will back me up even if I clear the JEE entrance exam,” a student who recently appeared class 12 exam confided.
For JEE 2017, the Ministry of Human Resource Development, has notified that ST students should have 65% marks (JEE Mains) and 60% marks in the class 12 examination to be eligible for admission in IITs/NITs/IIITs and such other CFTIs and other engineering colleges respectively. Till last year the qualifying marks for ST candidates was 50% in the class 12 examination.
Parents too are equally concerned about the probable outcome of the exam results. “The cut off marks for admission into good schools and colleges have increased over the years. In Delhi University and other universities outside the state, the cut off marks even for ST students have risen dramatically in the past couple of years. How can our children hope to get admission in reputed colleges and given a chance compete with the best talents if they do not have the required mark percentage?” a parent asked.
Is NBSE marking too strict?
A large number of students and parents alike are of the opinion that the NBSE should be more liberal in its marking system so that students are not deprived the chance to appear in technical exams or study outside in standard institutions. “The state government and NBSE should take into account that there is not a single higher technical institution in our state for our students to study and change the marking system in tune with other states and CBSE,” a parent said.
A professor of a technical institute also confided that students from the North East are facing the brunt as some state education boards are too strict with their marking systems unlike in southern states where marking is very liberal. The professor admitted that once Naga students are admitted, they even outdo other students from the mainland in practical classes.
Back home too, students studying in CBSE schools seem to have an edge over NBSE students in markings. With less percentage in the crucial class 12 results, many students from Nagaland are forced to seek admission in private technical institutions and colleges outside the state.
“In the present scenario, lots of touts and agents from private colleges and universities from outside Nagaland flock to the state, stay in posh hotels
or set up temporary offices, employ local girls and lure aspiring students to join engineering/ medical or other courses. These private institutes know well the ground reality and so they spend lakhs of rupees to earn crores from Nagas,” another parent said.
