There was this well known writer , an IIT engineer by profession who wrote a self deprecating 2 page story in the form of an illustrated cartoon.

The overzealous , pushy parents force their only son to study , study focussing only on IIT. He becomes a highly qualified engineer living abroad. His letters to his fond parents get reduced to ” I am ok , hope you are ok, everything is ok “.

When he becomes a doddering old man , the eye doctor tells him:-

” Don’t worry. You are not blind yet. You can still read 2 alphabets I & T “|.

I disagree that entrance exams are the problem. In fact Entrance exams make sure people cant cheat. I know that invigilated exams in Bihar everyone who wanted to copy from Digest used to get a knife and jab it the desk. How can you compete with someone who is writing board exam answers from the textbook! Coaching classes foster competition from people whom you do not know which adds your friend circle and enhances your competitiveness.

The rather bad problem I think is that poor performing students hold back smarter students in Indian 10th grade board and 12 grade board exam system. Example – if someone is smart enough to take the SSC in 9th grade, there should be no reason why they shouldnt. At the same time if someone wants to go back to college at any age they should be allowed (maybe at a premium).

Then comes the sad fact that in the 2 board exams students only mug up/rote answers, use digest, guide, self study etc which serve no educational purpose. There lies the real issue. How do you make 100000 students per educational district decide their future without exams! Everyone will want to be pilot, engineer, doctor, MBA, CA, etc. Honestly barring the cheating, and the mugging up everything else is good in our system.

I would like to talk about what has happened in TN after abolishing entrance exam. Now admissions to professional courses happen through public exam marks. Those who mug up and get good marks end up getting medical and engineering seats. I hear from my college prof that the quality of students is pathetic since most were good parrots in school.
Entrance exam at least served as a filter since it tried testing some qualitative aspects…

So, I don’t know where the real problem is… we will have to do an overhaul of the complete system right from kindergarten!!!