Chandigarh: Seeking an overhaul of the country’s entrance examination system, the National Independent Schools Alliance (NISA) has proposed a three-tier admission framework for NEET, JEE and CUET, combining Class XII board performance with computer-based and descriptive examinations.
In a memorandum submitted to the Centre, Ministry of Education and the Examination Reform Committee, NISA argued that admissions to premier institutions should not hinge on a single high-pressure test. It said greater weightage to school education and board examinations could help restore the role of regular classroom learning and reduce students’ dependence on coaching centres.
Under its proposed framework, candidates would first undergo a Class XII board merit-based screening, followed by a computer-based main examination and a descriptive advanced examination. NISA said the model would provide multiple opportunities to demonstrate academic ability while reducing the scope for examination malpractice and excessive coaching dependence.
NISA national president Kulbhushan Sharma said the growing coaching culture and “dummy schooling” model had weakened the significance of classroom education. He stressed that examination reforms should ensure that a student’s future was not determined by one high-stakes examination.
The alliance has also sought strict action against dummy schools, mandatory attendance in schools backed by technology-based monitoring and uniform NCERT-based academic standards. It has proposed allowing multiple JEE attempts after Class XII and setting up a high-level Examination Reform Commission with participation from education stakeholders.
NISA national joint secretary Dilip Modi said reforms should focus not merely on preventing paper leaks and irregularities but also on widening opportunities for students from government schools, rural areas and economically weaker sections. Greater alignment between school curricula, board examinations and entrance tests, he said, could help create a more equitable admission system.
NISA vice-president Sushil Gupta called for a national regulatory framework for coaching institutes, arguing that unchecked coaching dependence was encouraging dummy admissions and diverting students from holistic education.
The proposals come amid continuing debate over the pressure surrounding competitive examinations and the need to strengthen school-based learning. NISA said its recommendations were aimed at making examinations more transparent and credible while placing schools back at the centre of the education system.
