TN Assembly passes resolution urging Centre to withdraw CUET amid BJP staging walkout

The Tamil Nadu Assembly adopts a resolution urging the Centre to withdraw the proposal to conduct Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for admission to courses offered by Central, State and private universities, while BJP members staged a walkout.

Chennai:The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Centre to withdraw the proposal toconduct Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for admission to courses offered by Central, State and private universities. Chief Minister M K Stalin moved the resolution, urging the Central government to withdraw the entrance test.

There is no doubt that this CUET, like NEET will sideline the diverse school education system across the country, grossly undermine the relevance of overall development-oriented long-form learning in schools and make students rely upon coaching centres for improving their entrance examination scores, the resolution said.

Speaking on the resolution, the CM pointed out that the admission process in the Central varsities will be based on the CUET score for admission while discounting the class XII marks. The Centre has suggested that the State universities and the private deemed varsities can also make use of the CUET scores for admission if they wish to, he said.

"The Assembly feels that any entrance examination that is based on the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) syllabus will not provide an equal opportunity to all students who have studied in varied state board syllabi across the country," it said.

Opposing the resolution, BJP staged a walkout while the others including main opposition party, the AIADMK and ruling DMK's allies--Congress and the Left parties among others, supported the resolution. Speaker M Appavu said the resolution has been adopted unanimously.