Punjab govt to phase out entrance tests

He said that the universities added entrance tests which shows that even they did not recognise degrees awarded by them.

Asked about the fee hike, he reasoned that this had become necessary as the universities had to utilise their own resources to generate the money for developmental purposes. He said that the present system of higher education needs major reforming. "We have to adopt a system in which only the interested students pursue studies after Plus Two level". The present system, he said, only contributed to generate unemployment.

Talking of refusal of financial aid to some of the chairs set up in Punjabi University and Guru Nanak Dev University, he said the step was taken as the chairs had reportedly failed to do any research work and now they have been told to show up their research work.

He clarified that the government had not imposed temporary ban on the recruitment in teaching and non-teaching departments of Punjabi varsity and GNDU, but the finance and education departments had directed the university authorities to review the actual workload before going for fresh recruitment. He claimed that the governing body of universities had already passed such resolutions and the government departments had only followed it.

Earlier, the minister delivered a lecture on the second day of the three-day international seminar hosted by Punjabi University to commemorate the tercentenary of the Khalsa Panth.