Move evokes mixed response from IT industry

The scrapping of the Tamil Nadu Professional Courses Entrance Exams (TNPCEE) by the Tamil Nadu government has evoked a mixed response from the software industry regarding the quality of talent that will be churned out once it's enforced for the 2005-06 intake.

"There should not be a major impact on the industry (regarding quality of students passing out) as all merit students will be given a fair chance. Though some kind of adjustment needs to be done for CBSE and ICSE students," said Ravi Shah, vice-president, Tata Consultancy Services.

The CBSE and ICSE students are considered be at a disadvantage with the TNPCEE not being used to admit students for admissions to BE/BTech, MBBS, B Arch, BDS, BPharm, B Sc (agriculture) BVSc, Law and other courses for 2005-06. This is because students taking the state board exams usually score higher than those taking central exams.

And even though the TNPCEE is based solely on state matriculation exams, CBSE and ICSE students used to bridge this gap by attending coaching classes.

SlashSupport, provider of advanced tech support solutions that plans to increase its headcount from 2,000 to about 3,500 in 2005-06, fears that the quality of talent that has been deteriorating over the past four years may further worsen.

"We have to invest in training to make them employable. There may not be a problem in the next two to three years but it may change after that," said Shiva Ramani, CEO, SlashSupport.

"The Tamil Nadu (matriculation) board is very well organised," said Tushar K Nath, director, All-India Council for Technical Education, (Tamil Nadu) defending the state government's move to ditch TNPCEE.

The main concern for the industry is that scrapping of TNPCEE will lead to increased intake from rural areas and students who have scored high in the state board exams, and shut out students who have qualified CBSE or ICSE.