New Delhi, March 25: The chief of the Prime Minister’s science advisory council, C.N.R. Rao, has suggested one entrance test for admission into all higher education institutions so that students can “stop taking examinations and do something worthwhile”.

“It has been said that we have an examination system but not an education system. Examinations have got increasing importance in the last few years. One is not talking about final examination alone. Entrance examinations have become a menace,” Rao, a top scientist, wrote in a note forwarded to the human resource development ministry last week.

The IIT entrance test has a “negative” effect on young minds, he said.

“Young people suffer so much to succeed in these entrance examinations and in the process lose excitement in education itself. Those who succeed would have got exhausted and are not able to perform as well as young people with fresh minds,” Rao wrote.

Students have to sit for multiple entrance tests to get into higher education institutions even after scoring well in the board examination.

“When will young people stop taking examination and do something worthwhile? It is important to relook at the entire examination system, including the system of final examination, entrance examination, selection examination and so on. For entrance examination related to admission to higher educational institutions, there should be one national examination which should be able to asses the eligibility of candidates,” he said.

Former UGC chairperson Yashpal, however, expressed doubts if one entrance exam was possible.

“I do not know what he (Rao) meant by higher educational institutions. If he means institutions from all streams like medical, engineering, management, science and humanities, I do not know how it is feasible,” Yashpal said.

A general eligibility test was possible though.

“The eligibility test may test the level of competence of the students. Then each institute will be free to decide their own criteria for giving admission to students,” Yashpal said.

In his note, Rao also said universities are burdened with the conduct of examinations and that some universities are too large with many affiliated colleges. He favoured an upper limit for the number of students in an educational institution.

The scientist has called for an overhaul of the administration of education. “What is unfortunate is that education and research institutions are administered by people with IAS or similar administrative background, many without real interest in education,” he wrote.

Rao also criticised “direct intervention” of governments in administering institutions, especially in the states.

Stressing on diversification in higher education keeping in view the country’s manpower requirements, he said expansion should take place in areas with the potential to create jobs. Rao’s suggestions are with the human resource development ministry.