New Delhi: In what could be a turning point in the way college admissions are conducted across the country, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has said that the public responses that it has received regarding the National Testing Scheme (NTS) are favourable and most of the people have recommended a change in the current examination system.

The NTS is based on a single-examination evaluation so that students do not have to appear for multiple entrance examinations conducted across the country by various institutions or consortium of institutions.

A Committee with Dr T. Ramasami, Secretary Department of Science and Technology was constituted by the MHRD to design a National Testing Scheme (NTS) to provide for admission of students to undergraduate courses in Science and Engineering.

In order to obtain a cross-country feedback on the design of the NTS, opinion of the public through a specially designed questionnaire was sought on a range of issues by the Committee. The NTS website was launched in May 2011 to seek responses online and was open till June 21, 2011.

2063 responses were obtained which have been analysed by the Committee. Of the responses, 98.5% were received from India and 11% were received from women. 74% of the respondents had a science or engineering background.

The response received from students was substantial with 59% of the respondents, while 32% were employed and 5% were parents.

An overwhelming majority of the respondents were in favour of the reforms in the examination system with 59% suggesting major changes and 26% advocating partial changes.

The suggestions indicated were preference for a single examination having high knowledge intensity and features such as alignment with the Class XII examination syllabus, affordable examination fee, judicious use of time and money and transparency in examination results.

Substantial support was also indicated for a weighting factor for performance in the School Board examinations at Class XII. 66% of the respondents were in favour of the weighting factor.

Of the respondents who were against the weighting of the Class XII Board examinations for admission to undergraduate programmes, the principal reason cited was of non-uniformity across Boards.

73% of the respondents expressed their preference for National Testing System (NTS).

Support was also evinced for a mix of aptitude and advanced test with 70% expressing their preference for the same.

The Ramasami Committee is also separately undertaken extensive with School Boards and academics. The recommendations of the Committee would be submitted to the Ministry of HRD by September, 2011.