English entrance test to be held this year too

Students aspiring to study English at Delhi University may have to sit for the entrance examination -CATE, after all. Mallica Joshi reports.

Students aspiring to study English at Delhi University may have to sit for the entrance examination -CATE, after all.

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The English department has sent a letter to all college principals saying that the department has decided to hold CATE this year as well. It has also asked the colleges to discuss this with the teachers and send a representative to the meeting that is scheduled for next week.

CATE is an entrance test that was used by more than 20 colleges last year to admit students in their English (honours) programme. This year, there will be no distinction between baccalaureate with honours courses (four years) and baccalaureate courses (three years) at the time of admissions. The department has, however, decided to offer the colleges with the option of conducting the test this year as well.

"All the specifics of CATE are yet to be decided. We will hold a meeting sometime next week where the number of colleges opting for CATE and the dates will be decided," said Sumanyu Satpathy, head of the English department.

The department, however, is quite late in declaring the possibility of CATE this year. According to teachers, the notice to ask colleges to decide whether or not to opt for CATE normally reaches them in late February or March. This year, however, the syllabus formation and other formalities under the new four-year programme have kept everyone so busy that the procedure has been delayed.

Contrary to reports that all colleges will either have to opt for CATE or admit students through their class 12 marks, there is no such rigidity.

"We have given the department a free hand in deciding upon these matters. We do not want to interfere in such matters. As has been said before, the admission process will not change," said Umesh Rai, director, south campus.