Union Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibbal has taken a right step by announcing admission to Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) now on basis of marks obtained in class 12th examinations abolishing the present system of entrance-examinations for these premier institutions. The reform will not only abolish unnecessary stress on IIT-aspirants for additional admission-test, but will effectively shut down private coaching centres meant for money-minting in the name of education. Likewise, since education of science-subjects remains common for engineering and medical students, providing medical education in IITs is also an admirable step.
It is unfair that party-colleagues like Digvijay Singh are criticising for reforms in higher education just for sake of criticism. They are free to suggest reforms at school level. But it is senseless that reforms in higher education may be put on hold till best is achieved in school-education.
Madhu Agrawal
Delhi