AUS Student Union asks for removal of CUET requirement for admission, demands more centres in Barak

The Student Union of Assam University Silchar has raised serious concerns regarding the allocation of examination centres for students from Barak Valley. In a letter addressed to the Director General of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Vice Chancellor of Assam University, the union highlighted the significant challenges faced by students due to the assignment of exam centres in distant locations such as Agartala, Jorhat, and Guwahati. These examinations are crucial for admission to colleges under Assam University and other central universities.

Students from the three districts of Barak Valley have expressed their frustration, noting the immense difficulty in reaching these far-off centres. The current connectivity issues exacerbated by frequent train cancellations by NF Railway and landslides have further complicated travel plans. The surge in bus and flight ticket prices has made it financially burdensome for many, with some students reporting expenses as high as six thousand rupees for a one-way ticket to Guwahati. Consequently, several students facing financial constraints have opted out of appearing for the examination.

Dr. Ranoj Pegu, the Education Minister of Assam, has also intervened, writing to the Director General of NTA. He has requested the agency to consider conducting the EVS and Bengali examinations of CUET in Silchar, similar to other examinations. Dr. Pegu assured Barak Bulletin that he expects a prompt response from the NTA. The Department of Higher Education of the Assam Government has echoed this request in a separate letter to the NTA.

Subham Roy, President of the Student Union, articulated the union’s concerns in a letter to the Director General of NTA. “The exam centres for the CUET UG exam are located far apart from the place of residence for many students. As a result, students are facing significant hardships in appearing for the exams, with some having to travel long distances to reach the exam centres. This has caused undue burden and inconvenience for the students, affecting their ability to take the exam,” wrote Roy. He proposed an alternative, urging the NTA to consider admissions based on students’ previous academic performance rather than the CUET UG exam.

Roy highlighted the unique challenges faced by students in Barak Valley, where poor road infrastructure makes travel disproportionately difficult. “If a student wants to study in a college in Sonai, Nilambazar or Patherkandi, is he supposed to go to Guwahati, Dibrugarh or Agartala to appear for CUET? For the people of Barak Valley, the road infrastructure we have is pathetic; for us, travelling 50km here is equivalent to travelling 500km for a student in Delhi or other places. How can the child of a daily wager afford to travel this distance and stay there and write this exam? More centres should have been allocated in Barak for the students of Barak,” stated Roy.

The union has also appealed to the Vice Chancellor of Assam University to reconsider the requirement of CUET marks for admissions and to devise a solution that best serves the students of Barak Valley. They remain committed to ensuring a fair and accessible admissions process for all students in the region.