Petition to Save IIT JEE

copied from:
http://www.petitiononline.com/SaveJEE/petition.html

To: Members of Parliament of India - Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha

Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India,
Mr. Kapil Sibal, Union Minister of Human Resources & Development,
Mrs. Sushma Swaraj, Leader of the Opposition,
Smt. Meira Kumar, Speaker of the House
Members of the Parliament in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha,
State Education Ministers, Chairman of the UGC,
Directors of all IITs and Citizens of India.

Petition Created on 5th April 2010.

Subject : An appeal not to abolish a proven system called JEE (Joint Entrance Examination for IITs).

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, our first Prime Minister and a great visionary, created the five IITs, getting UNESCO, USA, Germany, UK & Russia to fund, furbish, staff and nurture them in the initial years. Pandit Nehru built them on the lines of premier institutions world wide. The dream was to kickstart and accelerate a process that would identify talented high school graduates and provide them a high quality education in engineering.

To qualify for the JEE (Joint Entrance Exam for IITs) every applicant must have passed the final examination of the 10+2 system (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. There was no emphasis on overall performance at high school and none on student’s educational background, promoting a level playing field for students from nooks and corners of India.

Over the past 50 years, 175,000 graduates of the IITs have established IIT as a Global Brand, facilitated by the autonomous structure & funds granted to the IITs by the Government of India. This valuable Brand name arose out of the graduates being able to compete in the global market place, where merit and capability are the only measures that matter. The success of IIT alumni who have done the Nation proud belongs to the Indian Government, the IITs themselves and also the Indian Tax Payers, whose money was invested unconditionally by GoI in IITs for five decades.

Whilst all of the above share credit for the success of the IITs, basic marketing principles would say that a Global Brand is created more by its graduates and the benefits that those alumni bring to India and the world at large, than any other single entity; thus, IIT Alumni is a critically important group to consider.

Such excellence and recognition could not have been achieved over a sustained period of 50 years, without the help of the selection process. The key ingredient to the IIT system is the JEE ( Joint Entrance Examination ), that has helped pick truly gifted students for 50 years for a B.Tech Degree. Quality materials are needed to develop a quality product, and JEE does just that, selecting from about 400,000 aspirants annually, the cream of the nation to study at IITs.

Whilst JEE is a key ingredient, the IIT Brand is a recognition of the contribution of IITians to the Global society. IIT Alumni have created many new companies and have served the nation by introducing state of the art technologies. They have helped generate several million jobs over the last 50 years globally, with almost 75% of those jobs being created in India.

Quoting French Nobel Prize winner for literature in 1921, Anatole France “To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.” The IIT Brand has inspired passionate young Indians to dream big, believe in themselves and aspire with confidence.

In accordance with the IIT Act, the President of India initiated a review of the IIT system in 2004 by a Committee consisting of :

Prof. Rama Rao, former Vice Chancellor, University of Hyderabad;
R. Chidambaram, then Principal Scientific Advisor;
Dr G. Mehta, Director Indian Institute of Science;
Dr S.K.Joshi, National Physical Laboratory;
A. Mahindra, Chairman Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd;
and C.K.Birla, Chairman Hindustan Motors

and they had concluded that :

“JEE is singularly responsible for accomplishing the brand image of India” and “the system which has been put into place to conduct the JEE exam should NOT be disturbed and that a group be formed of senior IIT professors who have been associated with the JEE to look into some reforms.”

There has been no review since and nothing could have changed to warrant abolition of JEE by 2013 as reported by the media in recent times.

Any system that has consistently delivered high on career development can be prone to abuse. There have been allegations of some misuse of the JEE too. Private coaching classes have mushroomed around the country to circumvent JEE methodologies used to identify excellence. This needs to be fixed.

However abolishing JEE would be a case of "throwing the baby out with the bath water". We are sure you will see our appeal is fair, in the best interest of the nation and children of the future.

There is a good case for the proposed Common Entrance Test (CET) eliminating the need for one student to take multiple exams for example the CBSE Board 10+2, IIT JEE, BITS Pilani, AIEEE, State Level MH-CET and private college entrance tests and then having to attend in-person interviews for seat allotments for example in Trichy (TN), Warrangal (AP), Pilani ( Rajhastan), Wakaranghat (HP), Delhi, Mumbai and more.

However with hurdles like 18 official languages, many backward class students deserving reservation and a large disparity between rich and poor in terms of opportunities & awareness, implementing CET will be a challenge; it further compounds the risk of placing all eggs in one basket called the CET, eliminating free choice. What happens to a clever student who for reasons beyond his control does badly in the CET or is forced to miss CET. Does he or she not deserve a few more options ?

CET will grade a million students whilst JEE differentiates between the top 10000 students by testing their native intelligence. Even if CET is established, the need for JEE will not diminish as it is a unique high grade filtering process. JEE is unique in testing complex problem solving skills requiring abstract & lateral thinking while other entrance exams test knowledge.

JEE is very different from 10+2 board exams in that JEE tests a students raw intelligence, which is an individual's ability to grasp abstract concepts, recognize patterns plus apply prior knowledge while 10+2 school board exams test knowledge acquired at school. Restricting entry to JEE by raising the qualifying marks from 60% to 85 % in 10+2 exams as is being considered is a retrograde step as it will deny IITs the benefit of selecting some very clever and creative students, favouring those who only excel in examinations. Should such talented students be denied the opportunity of a lifetime for an affordable and superlative education ?.

If the current JEE format allows any form of "beating the system", then what is essential is to plug the loopholes. If, as alleged, JEE standards may have been compromised by the very people meant to guard the system, it is not a system failure, but a violation of ethics that requires eradication. The system needs to be streamlined to plug the loopholes without compromising on any processes which ensure standards.

JEE is the Gold Standard for Engineering entrance exam and should stay. This appeal is for GoI to set up an “ Independent Commission ” to correct the flaws and abuses in the JEE system and not to abolish the methodology.

To abolish the JEE would be tantamount to finding a key ingredient of a winning formula and removing it. There is no scientific basis whatsoever for doing this, no scientific evidence whatsoever that the Global IIT brand would be improved, and no scientific evidence whatsoever that any generally accepted objective would be achieved. Indeed, such a move flies directly in the face of any evidence-based thinking that has been put forward.

The Nation will be indebted to the Ministers of GoI, for making the right decision “Not to Abolish JEE” and that JEE, the Gold Standard, will continue to serve our children of future generations.

We the undersigned "Save JEE Team of Volunteers", offer our services to the nation to help investigate, redesign and develop a fool proof and just "JEE" system.

Ram Krishnaswamy, B.Tech 1970, IIT Madras, M. Bldg. Sc. Sydney University, MIE.Aust., MAAS.,
1990-97 Managing Director- Environmental Noise control Pty Ltd.
1997-2000 Managing Director - Noise Control Australia Pty Ltd.
Currently: Managing Director – NoDesCo, Sydney, Australia.

Arvind Singh, B.Tech 1993, IIT Kanpur
Currently: Software Development Lead and Principal Architect, Marshall Watson , Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

B.K.Syngal, B.Tech (Hons)1961, M.Tech 1962 IIT Kharagpur, India,
C.Eng (UK), M.I.E.E. (UK), Sr. M.I.E.E.E. (USA), and F.I.ET.E. (India), Member London Court of International Arbitration.
1991-98: Chairman and Managing Director of Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (VSNL), 1998-2001: Chairman, Reliance Telecom,
2001-2007: Vice Chairman, BPL Communications Limited, Currently: Sr. Principal Dua Consulting, India

Barun Kumar, B.Tech 1992, IIT Kanpur, Currently: DGM, Reva Electric Car Company, India

Dr. Beheruz N. Sethna, B.Tech, 1971, IIT Bombay, MBA, 1971, IIM Ahmedabad, M.Phil., Columbia University, Ph.D., Columbia University,
Professor and President of The University of West Georgia, with two terms served as Interim Executive / Senior Vice Chancellor of the University System of Georgia
(Dr. Sethna is the first Indian-born President ever of any U.S. University)

Chidambaram Raghavan, B.Tech. 1974 IIT Madras, M.Sc in Engg 1976 Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland USA
1978-85: Worked in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), 1985-06: Principal Research Engineer at Flow International Corporation, Kent, Washington
Currently: Consultant for Aerospace and Advanced Systems in India to Flow International Corporation, India

Gajendra Sidana, B.Tech 2006, IIT Madras, Currently: Process Safety Engineer, Hazira LNG Pvt. Ltd (a Shell & Total Joint Venture), India

Dr. G.S.Parthasarathy, M.Tech 1969, IIT Madras, Prof in Civil Engineering, M.S.University of Baroda, Gujarat, India

Dr. Harwant Singh Chhabra, B.Tech1969, IIT Madras, MBA, Fellow IIM Ahmedabad, Former Professor, NITIE and IIML, Currently: President, Lemonte Acquisitions Houston, USA

Jairam Sampath, B.Tech 1985 - IIT Madras, PGDM 1989 - IIM Ahmedabad, Currently: CMO - iPath Technologies, India

Dr. Narayana Prakash R.Saligram, B.E 1976 (NITK, Suratkal), M.Tech1980 IIT Bombay, PhD 1993(IISc), Currently: VP (Operations) Plug Power Energy India Pvt. Ltd., India.

Navroze Havewala, B.E, PGDM – IIM Bangalore, Currently: Chief Executive of Mazda Consultants, India.

Padmanabh Sahasrabudhe, B.E 1999 JNEC, M.Tech 2001, IIT Bombay, Currently: Senior Member of Technical Staff in Oracle USA.

Dr. P R Swarup, B.Tech 1975, IIT Kanpur, Ph.D Rajeev Gandhi Technical University, Bhopal, D.Sc. (Honoris Causa)
1975-96 Worked on Physical Infrastructure Construction Projects in India and overseas
Currently: Director General, Construction Industry Development Council, New Delhi, India

Raghav Mittal, M.Tech [Dual Degree] 2004, IIT Kharaghpur, Managing Director Extra Edge Infomedia Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi, Editor UPTU WATCH, Trustee & Chairman Paarth Educational Foundation, Mathura, Mentor Paarth Educational Services, Mathura, Advisor: Braj Chikitsa Sansthan; BSA College of Engineering & Technology, Mathura , Trustee & Project Coordinator, The Braj Foundation , Secretary, Braj Rakshak Dal . Member, District Vigilance Committee Mathura, Coordinator, Students' Forum for India's Heritage [SFIH], Convener, Bharat Bandhu Network [BBN], Member, Bharat Punarnirman Dal [BPD]

Dr. Raj Mutharasan B.Tech 1969, IIT Madras , M.S. Drexel University 1971, Ph.D. Drexel University 1973
Frank A. Fletcher Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Former Dean of Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Ramanan Ramamurti, B.Tech 1976, IIT Madras, Currently: Director - Nile Ltd., India

Ranjan Pant. IIT Kanpur B.Tech (1973). Currently, Chief Technology Officer at Powermax Global, Maryland, USA.
Involved in organizing IIT alumni activities in the US since 1998; Co-founder of Capital IIT (later Pan IIT association of Washington DC);
Co-chair of world's first major international IIT conference (Washington DC, 2002);
co-author of “IIT India's Intellectual Treasures” and forthcoming book “Global 101“ which features 101 IIT alumni making key global contributions

Sadashiv. K, B.Tech 1977, IIT Madras, MBA IIM Bangalore, Currently: Partner (ASEAN)-Climate Change & Sustainability Services, Ernst & Young, Singapore

Dr. Samir Kelekar, B.Tech 1983, IIT Bombay, MS 1987 Clemson University, USA, Phd 1994 Columbia University, NYC, USA.
Founder- Director of Teknotrends Software Pvt Ltd, Bangalore, India.

Dr. Sanat Agrawal, B.Tech 1988, IIT Kanpur,
Currently: Associate Professor, Mechanical Engg, Jaypee Institute of Engg and Technology (JIET), Madhya Pradesh, India.

Sanjay Jadhav, B.Tech 1989, IIT Bombay, MBA 2003, IIT Kanpur, currently Director on Golden Arch International Ltd., India
Guest faculty at National Power Training Institute , Project Director and Volunteer at Bharatshodh

Selvaraj Israel, B.Tech 1972, IIT Madras. Retd Engineer SG ISRO. Currently Researching Human Posture, India

Somayajula Achuta Ramaiah, B.Tech 1967, IIT Madras. Wing Commander (Retd) Indian Air Force, India

Somnath Bharti, MSc (IITD), LLB (Delhi University), Advocate, Supreme Court of India and Delhi High Court, Partner, Bharti & Associates (Advocates and Corporate Lawyers), India.
Former Secretary, IIT Delhi Alumni Association, Formerly Member, Senate, IIT Delhi, Founder, Save Vikram Buddhi Movement.

Dr. Sriram Parthasarathy, B.Tech 1982, IIT Madras, PhD 1998 Georgia Tech, India

Suresh Adina, B.Tech 1989, IIT Kharaghpur, MS 1992- MIT USA, MS 1998- NEU USA, Currently: MD Quickeagle Networks, USA

Udit Chaudhuri, BSc 1979, Univ of Delhi, Adv Dipl Mgt -Wolfgang Mewes Verlag, Strategy Consultant / Technical Writer / Lead Coordinator (SME Interim Management Program), India

Varada Raju Dharanipragada, B.Tech 1970, M.Tech 1974, IIT Madras
Currently : Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Gayatri Vidya Parishad College of Engineering, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India

Vickram Crishna, B. Tech 1975, IIT Delhi, P.G.D.M. 1977 IIM Calcutta, Chief Executive, Radiophony, India, Currently: Coordinator, Privacy Network in Asia, India.

Vikash Kodati, B.Tech 2002, IIT Guwahati , Currently: Technical Manager at Verasta – a subsidiary of Trilogy, USA.

Vinayak Markande, B.Tech 1980, IIT Bombay; DMS- University of Bombay
1993-96 : Project Manager- National Peroxides Ltd., Kalyan, Mumbai, 1996-05 : Sr. Project Manager- Larsen & Toubro Ltd., Baroda
Currently: Director / Proprietor - Perrin Valves Pvt. Ltd., Baroda, India

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

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