Shillong, May 1: Achik Holistic Awakening Movement (AHAM) has threatened to agitate if NEHU and state government do not withhold Common University Entrance Test (CUET) mandatory criteria for UG admissions in the state.
In a statement issued on Sunday, George Prince Ch Momin, the president of AHAM Central Executive Board (CEB), said after a meeting and listening to the students of several Higher Secondary Schools and colleges, AHAM has decided to redress the grievances of the students.
Several students from different colleges and higher secondary schools had invited the AHAM-CEB to address the problems of implementing CUET in the state.
Momin said the grievances of the students of the region are true and government and NEHU must heed to their plea to refrain from making CUET criteria for admission to undergraduate courses in the state, especially Garo Hills region.
The organisation observed that two-year lockdown has brought down the quality of education especially in teaching because the online teaching is totally new to both the students and the teachers.
AHAM pointed out that another important thing is that the facility the students of Garo Hills have is below average and before the implementation of CUET criteria, the quality of education in all respects should be improved, so that the students of the region can compete with other students.
The organisation pointed out that the declaration of CUET in the region was also made in a haphazard manner with the clarity only coming in just two weeks before the last date of registration.
The organisation warned both NEHU and the state government not to play with the lives and the future of the students of the region.
The policy of CUET criteria at this juncture would only push the students to take admissions in private universities which is costly and it indirectly pushes the students in poverty to stop their studies,the organisation said,adding that it would fight tooth and nail if the students are deprived of their studies.
The organisation also rejected the 7.5 % reservation for ST/SC in the NEHU affiliated colleges and said if NEHU implements the policy in the affiliated colleges of the region, then it would only invite trouble.
“Also, establishing one centre for CUET exam in each district would not suffice to cater to the student population of the district besides it will cause more expense to the students in rural areas”, AHAM said.
The organisation said it has decided to submit a memorandum to both the Chief Minister and NEHU Vice-Chancellor to repeal the mandatory CUET at least for this year and informed to organise series of rallies in Garo Hills along with the students of Garo Hills if the authorities fail to do so.
