Holding examinations is turning out to be a stern test for the National Testing Agency. The second phase of the Common University Entrance Test faced a major technical snag when the NTA failed to upload question papers on time, forcing more than 50,000 candidates across 41 centres in 29 cities to return home without sitting for the examination. There were other logistical slips as well. Many candidates found out that their examination had been rescheduled only after reaching the centre; question papers could not always be accessed; some examinees could not complete their answer scripts because of server trouble. Incidentally, this is not the first time that the computer-based entrance test has been marred by technical glitches. This has, naturally, raised doubts regarding the competence of the NTA. The bungling is unpardonable because the body has had the experience of conducting the Joint Entrance Examination-Main, National Eligibility cum Entrance Test and the National Eligibility Test before. Worse, an adequate explanation for these lapses continues to be elusive. The testing agency had initially attributed the problems to the non-compliance of protocol by examination centres. However, soon after, the chairman of the University Grants Commission, M. Jagadesh Kumar, alleged that there are indications of ‘sabotage’.
The NTA has announced that the retests will be held between August 24 to 28. However, this cannot count as relief. These glitches have undoubtedly heightened the emotional stress and anxiety of students — one student reportedly has had to prepare for the CUET for the fourth time this year. The NTA must admit that complacency may have led to under-preparedness, which, in turn, caused disruptions. Unlike entrance tests for specialised courses, CUET tests 54,000 unique subject combinations. This requires a complex but sturdy IT and administrative infrastructure that evidently needs to be bolstered. This is particularly worrying given the pronounced push towards the digital in the sphere of education. The spillover effect — delays in the higher education cycle — will be acutely felt by the student community. Ironically, the students appearing for the CUET were also the ones who had faced disruptions during the Class X and XII exams. The NTA and the education ministry must unearth the reasons behind these persistent challenges. Otherwise, it will only erode public trust in the scaffolding that bears the weight of education.
