NCERT scraps class 8 talent search exam Scholarship aspirants rue council's decision; coaching classes at the receiving end

NCERT scraps class 8 talent search exam

Scholarship aspirants rue council's decision; coaching classes at the receiving end

It's been months that lakhs of class VIII students across the country have been preparing for the National Talent Search Exam (NTSE), with many of them even sacrificing their summer vacations to keep their focus. However, they won't be able to take the prestigious talent search exam this year as National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT), which conducts NTSE for class 8 and class10 every year to award 1,000 scholarships, has recalled the exam for class 8 from this year on. The class 8 students, who had been preparing hard for NTSE, are clueless a confused lot. Only until last week they were exchanging notes with each other. And this week, they have got to know about the exam being cancelled. A parent, who has enrolled her child in a renowned coaching centre known for IIT entrance exam, said, “We have already spent Rs25,000 for the NTSE classes which began in May. They have refused refund, saying that they had already covered 90% of the course.” KJ Somaiya College, which has been coaching 50 class 8 students since 2006 (when NTSE started for class 8), is dealing with students demanding a 40% refund of the total fee of Rs4,500. Prof SP Vaidya, who coaches the children, said, “NCERT should have taken the decision well in advance to avoid discomfort to children. Also, instead of recalling class 8 exam, the NCERT should have discontinued it for class 10 as most students focus on their boards.” This, even as www.msce.nice.in, the website of the Maharashtra State Council for Examination (MSCE) that organises the first level of NTSE, has not been updated to announce the cancellation of class 8 talent exam. While MSCE commissioner Mahavir Mane was unavailable for comment, a senior MSCE officer Manegaokar clarified, “We have posted information only about class10 exam on our website (www.mscepune.in), implying that class 8 is not included.” Director of Examination (NTS) at NCERT, Sridhar Srivastava was unavailable for comment. Email sent to him elicited no response either. Clarifying about delay, a NCERT official said, Our proposal (to scrap NTS for class 8) was sent to MHRD in December 2011, but was approved only in July 2012.” But he refused to divulge any more. The two levels of NTSE for class 10 would be conducted in November and next May. NTSE forms for class10 are available with the state liaison officer and on the MSCE and NCERT website for which last date is August 31.