NEHUSU seek CM’s intervention to set up CSIR-NET centre in the state

SHILLONG, FEB 20: The North Eastern Hill University Students’ Union (NEHUSU) has sought the intervention of the chief minister Conrad K Sangma for setting up of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research National Eligibility Test (CSIR-NET)) centre in the state.

In a memorandum submitted to Sangma on Wednesday, NEHUSU president Genuica Majaw said Meghalaya has only one centre for the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) at Qualapatty in Shillong but none for the CSIR-NET.

She said these tests are mandatory for determining the eligibility of Indian nationals for the post of Assistant Professor or Junior Research Fellowship in Indian universities and colleges.

According to her, the State Level Eligibility Test is conducted by the state of Meghalaya to select eligible educators from the state.

Stating that the UGC had last year decided that the NET exam would be conducted as computer based test, Majaw however said the result of the decision has exposed the truth of the state’s inadequacy to deal with the computerised tests.

“As for the CSIR NET Meghalaya has had no centres and will not have one for 2019 as well. There can also be not enough stress on how Meghalaya has been conducting the SLET with the non-existence of centres within the state,” she said.

Due to this, the student leader said students who wish to appear these two mandatory tests that could determine their futures have to travel beyond state boundaries for the absurd reason of gaining access to a computer.

The stress of travelling to an unfamiliar location, the problem of lodging and the expenses of travel will expectedly have unwanted effects upon the aspiring candidate who has to appear two papers within a single window of 3 hours, she said.

Urging the chief minister’s intervention on the matter, Majaw also reminded that the key campaign of the National People’s Party (NPP) was the prioritization of education sector in the state.

“This prioritization also necessitates the creation of an amicable atmosphere for students to participate in such tests that exist at the national level. All that the students require is the willingness of those in power to actually make education a priority as promised,” she said.

By Our Reporter