HRD Minister Kapil Sibal’s frenetic thrust for the implementation of the Common Entrance Test (CET) for admission to engineering colleges was met with caution by most State Governments on Wednesday as the latter sought more time to think the suggestion through. Sibal claimed the proposed reform had “in-principle consensus” of the Education Ministers present at a meeting in the national Capital.

The other proposals, including the setting up of community colleges in the XIIth Plan, National Vocational Educational Qualification Framework (NVEQF), curricular renewal for equitable quality of elementary education and grievances redressal under the RTE Act, however were received well by the States.

The challenge for Sibal was however to win over States’ support for conducting CET in 2013. In a bid to take the State Governments on board, he maintained that the proposed reform would allow flexibility in the proposed weightage of 40 per cent to be given to the State Board examinations. The respective weightage of 60 per cent to the Indian Science - Engineering Eligibility Test (ISEET) main and advance may also be decided by the respective State Boards, he clarified.

Sibal pointed out that State Governments played a pivotal role in formulation and implementation of policies in the education sector. “Recognising the centrality of State Governments, I have been conducting regular consultations with them since 2009”, he said.

He however added that irrespective of the decisions of the State, ISEET would be held next year for admissions into 15 IITs, 30 NIT’s and other centrally-funded science and engineering colleges. “The success of these examinations would inspire the States to ultimately go for the CET”, he claimed.

Apart from reducing the multiplicity of the examinations that the students are compelled to face, it would also put an end to the menace of capitation fee, Sibal pointed out. The exams would be held at least three-four times in a year. To begin with, in 2013, it would be held twice, whose frequency would be increased gradually. The students would thus get more attempts to clear the tests.

The Education Ministers of most States felt that since most engineering and science colleges are under State jurisdiction, it is very important to get their consent. “Let the Centre come up with some concrete rules for Common Entrance Test first-we would study it and then give our approval”, they added.