Net the NET

NET or National Eligibility Test is conducted by the UGC and is a qualifying exam for future lecturers and researchers. With the 6th pay commission the number of candidates appearing has gone up but the number of candidates qualifying the exams has been pretty low. Does this mean that UGC NET is a tough nut to crack? Or are our students not prepared for such exams? well, in most cases the latter seems to be true. Students pursuing their Masters in Universities like JNU, DU clear this exam before completing their Masters. Some at places like BHU take a few more chances. But those at Patna University, Magadh University and other state universities seem to take forever to clear this exam. Where is the problem? Is the syllabus of the state universities not at par with that of the central universities? What are the teachers in the state universities doing in the classroom that the students are left terrified of the NET?

What I have observed over the years and specially in the subject of English is the students' pursuit of Narain series (all Patna University Dept. of English students are familiar with this) over the actual text and critical books. I do acknowledge the unavailability of texts in the book stores of Patna but we know 'where there is a will, there is a way!' Secondly, students keep running to the so-called 'popular' teachers for tuitions. These teachers may appear in the class once in a blue moon but conduct their tuition classes regularly and punctually. The predominant feature of these classes is the dictation of answers of important questions. One may think that over the years the answers to such questions (as the syllabus remains unchanged over long periods of time) may be passed on to the next batch of students but in reality no one passes things over. The other person who might be the best friend of the tuition going person will have to join the tuition classes; he can not take the notes from his friend for free!

Thirdly, the kind of questions that one is asked in the exams does not go beyond the theme, structure, characterization and style of a text. Students being students study what is needed for the final exams. who thinks of the NET?

The entire system is such that even the most hard working and intelligent student may be left deflated. In spite of writing good answers and working hard, a student may not get high marks because he was not patronized by some teacher.

As a result, we are left with postgraduates who (if unable to find alternative career options) wish to join the same league as their teachers - that of lectureship but lack the ability to tackle the UGC NET! It is high time that people in positions of responsibility pulled their socks up to make a sound future.