EAMCET to lose its sheen by next year

Medical private test will be a reality

Hyderabad: One of the most sought after entrance test of Telugu heartland- EAMCET, is likely to lose its lustre by 2015, due to concerted efforts of managements of private engineering and medical colleges. While the private medical colleges have already been waging a battle with the government to conduct their own test, engineering colleges have also decided to tread their own path.

This is exactly on the lines of Karnataka- where a parallel common entrance test is being held by the Private Medical and Dental Colleges Association under the name of Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMEDK). This is independent of the government conducted CET and is used to fill some part of the seats of certain engineering, medical and dental colleges in Karnataka.

AP Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) has recently recognised a total of ten private engineering college management associations- which applied for it as per the directive of the High Court. Some of the associations have also toyed with the idea of conducting their own test and held discussions over it. But since there is no unanimity, they deferred the decision.

It may be recalled that the council has also approved similar associations by private medical and dental colleges.

Though it is a remote possibility that both the associations will form as a single entity on the lines of COMEDK, it will be certain that there would be separate tests, observers feel.

The private colleges’ own medical test will be certain from 2015 and there may be a different set of rules on all categories of seats, according to official sources.

With regard to admissions to Agricultural B Sc, which will also be done on the basis of EAMCET rank, the division of the state will be a shocker. Acharya NG Ranga University (ANGRAU), the premiere agricultural university in the state will be divided and a separate varsity is likely to come up at Bapatla or Tirupathi. The faculty will be divided between the varsities. The residuary state and Telangana may go in for separate admission tests for admission to courses from 2015, according to sources.

“EAMCET will be there but in a diluted form. Even for this, both the governments will have to come to an understanding,” an official who was transferred to AP admitted.

As the state was bifurcated and the new governments devised their priorities, the survival of some of the engineering colleges may be difficult. Most of these colleges have been thriving on reimbursement facility and it is unlikely that it will be continued in the same form and spirit.

Though some of the elite private colleges may get going in spite of reimbursement blues, the middle level colleges located in municipal towns will have to face the music and probably in course of time, may close shop in the absence of proper government support. In a nutshell, engineering study will be hit hard by these factors.