COIMBATORE: Jawaharlal Nehru University vice-chancellor Prof Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit on Tuesday said the single-phase format of national-level exams such as NEET needs reconsideration, citing limitations in conducting a technology secure test for the nearly 40 lakh candidates who appear for them.Addressing reporters on the sidelines of the Cheran Institute of Health Sciences convocation at Telungupalayam in Coimbatore, Pandit said India currently does not have the technology capacity to conduct such large-scale examinations securely in one go. She suggested exploring alternatives such as conducting the test in multiple phases or at the regional level.She said even with stringent security measures, risks of cyber theft and technology enabled malpractice remained. Splitting the exam into phases could help reduce such issues, she added.On education reforms, Pandit said that the National Education Policy had introduced changes after 34 years and argued that education policies should be updated every 10 years in line with global developments. She stressed the need for skill-based and research-oriented learning and said that students should not focus only on govt jobs but should also become entrepreneurs who created employment. She added that the NEP had been framed to meet these requirements.Highlighting the importance of languages in higher education, she said mother tongue learning was essential, while adding that students should also learn a third language along with English to enhance mobility and competitiveness across states and globally.Pandit pointed to education funding constraints, saying India spent around 3.6% of GDP on education, making it difficult to compete with countries such as China, South Korea and the US. She called for increased funding, including through private or philanthropic support, to help India compete globally as part of the 2047 Viksit Bharat vision.She presented degrees to around 300 students.
