Pune: Preeminent Education and Research Association (PERA), a federation of the state private universities of Maharashtra, has said that the Common Entrance Test (CET) for vocational courses should not be conducted this year in wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

The state government has yet not announced any decision on when and how to conduct the CET for admissions for vocational courses this year. The association has said that conducting CET during the coronavirus outbreak could endanger the lives of students. Therefore, the government should cancel this exam for this academic year and allow private universities and other colleges to get admission for vocational courses on Class XII marks.

PERA President Prof Dr Mangesh Karad and Vice President Bharat Agarwal have said that private universities and other colleges should be allowed to admit students for vocational courses on the basis of their marks obtained in class XII.

Dr Karad said, "PERA has been formed as per the Universities Act. It is an association of private universities in Maharashtra consisting of 12 private universities. The organization works for higher education and the justice and rights of self-financed universities in the state. The members of this association met last week. The members also expressed concern over the delay in conducting the CET examination by the state government for vocational courses."

"Parents and students are worried that the new academic year will not start early this year. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 epidemic is not slowing down in the state. It would be dangerous for students to take CET under such circumstances. Therefore we demand that the government should cancel this examination for this year," he said.

"Private universities, including colleges affiliated to state universities, will also benefit if students are allowed to take admission in vocational courses on the basis of class 12 marks. This will be a great relief to the students", Dr Karad mentioned.