Andhra Pradesh bifurcation: New governments to decide on exams

Hyderabad: If the AP State Council of Higher Education is divided, there is uncertainty about how common admissions and quotas for Telangana and AP states can be implemented by conducting separate tests.
On Saturday, senior officials in the higher education department held a meeting to finalise the modalities for division of APSCHE by June 2.

It may be noted that APSCHE was included in the Xth Schedule of the T-Bill, which offers common services for both the states for a certain period. However, the sudden development to divide APSCHE has led to apprehensions among students from Seemandhra region who were hopeful of getting seats in colleges in Hyderabad and its surroundings without any problem at least for the next five years though the Telangana Bill has set maximum limit of 10 years.

They are even worried over conducting common counselling for Eamcet, Icet admissions etc due to division of APSCHE.
Each body will have a separate chairman, secretary, two vice-chairmen and other supporting staff and each body can conduct independent entrance tests and admissions from next year.

Officials who are busy finalising the modalities for division of APSCHE are paying little attention to meeting the objectives of the T-Bill on common CETs, admissions and quotas in both the states.
They feel that it’s the job of the new governments which assume charge after June 2 in both the states to decide on the issue.

“It’s not possible to continue a single body for conducting CETs and admissions after the state is bifurcated. There are several practical difficulties involved in this. The respective governments in both the states have to sit together, discuss and devise a formula for conducting common CETs and admissions.

Such a crucial and important decision cannot be taken at the level of officials. Elected governments have to take a call on this since it involves political implications,” said a senior official.
Officials pointed out that they are going ahead with the division of APSCHE as per the directions of the state government and the policy decisions on admissions will be taken by the new governments.