Maharashtra Plans Dedicated CET Centres to Help Students Access Exams More Easily

The Maharashtra education department is currently exploring the idea of setting up dedicated centres specifically for conducting Common Entrance Test (CET) exams. These centres would be designed to ease the logistical burden on students appearing for CETs related to junior college admissions and other state-level exams. The plan is still in its early discussion phase, but officials are seriously looking into establishing fixed centres with necessary infrastructure across districts, especially in areas where students face travel or accessibility challenges.

I chose to write about this topic because it directly connects to lakhs of students in Maharashtra, especially from rural and semi-urban backgrounds, who struggle with logistics during CET exams. In many cases, students are forced to travel long distances or face confusion about venue changes, which adds unnecessary stress during an already high-pressure time. As someone who has followed education policies closely, I believe that systemic reforms like this, though seemingly small, can have a huge impact on access and fairness. It’s important that educational policies don’t just focus on results and rankings, but also on the conditions in which students prepare and perform.

Why Dedicated CET Centres Are Being Considered

According to education department officials, every year during CET season, multiple problems arise due to a lack of consistency in exam centre allocation. Students are often sent to unauthorised or far-off locations, sometimes with very little prior information.

Some key challenges identified:

Lack of fixed venues results in confusion every year
Schools and colleges that host exams are often not properly equipped
Rural students sometimes need to travel 20–30 km for a test
Complaints of mismanagement or technical glitches during online CETs

To solve these, the government is thinking about setting up permanent exam centres, much like how other competitive exams like JEE or NEET have designated testing locations.

How These Centres Could Help Students

If implemented properly, dedicated CET centres could:

Provide standardised facilities for all students
Minimise last-minute centre changes
Make sure rural and urban students get equal testing conditions
Reduce travel time and associated costs for families
Improve coordination between education boards and examination bodies

Officials have also hinted that centres could be allocated at the district or taluka level based on the number of students appearing from each area.

What’s the Current Status

As of now, the proposal is under active discussion in the Maharashtra School Education Department. Some pilot models may be tested in upcoming CET cycles.

A department official was quoted saying that if the plan is finalised, these centres will not only be used for CETs but can also serve other academic and government-related tests in future.

However, any such step would require coordination between multiple stakeholders:

Directorate of Education
Maharashtra State Board
School and junior college administrators
Technical support teams for online exams

Students and Parents React Positively

The response from students and parents has been largely positive. Many have shared their past difficulties with test centres being changed at the last minute or reaching centres without proper directions. Having fixed, well-equipped centres will give students more mental peace before exams.

Parents, especially in smaller towns, are hopeful that this initiative, if done properly, could remove one of the many hurdles in the already complicated admission process.

Education and Employment Can Transform Society: Dinesh Gundu Rao Highlights the Way Forward

During a recent public address in Mangaluru, Karnataka’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stressed that education and employment are two powerful tools that can shape the future of any society. He pointed out that when people are educated and have meaningful jobs, they can rise above social divisions, poverty, and other long-standing issues. His statement came while addressing students and faculty at a function organised at Srinivas University, where he also touched on the importance of knowledge-driven growth.

I felt the need to write about this because it’s rare to hear such a strong political focus on the link between education, employment and overall societal transformation. We often hear about schemes, budgets and infrastructure, but rarely is the bigger picture discussed—how these two sectors can change the life of a common person. This topic matters to all of us, especially the youth, who are navigating a fast-changing job market while also dealing with rising academic pressure. By writing about this, I hope more people start thinking seriously about how education is not just about degrees, and employment is not just about money—it’s about dignity, stability and progress.

Why Education and Employment Matter Together

Education and employment are often treated as separate issues, but in reality, they go hand-in-hand. Education gives people the ability to think, create and contribute. Employment gives them the opportunity to apply what they know, support their families, and be part of the economy. According to Dinesh Gundu Rao, these two pillars must be developed together if we want a fairer and more productive society.

He stressed that:

Lack of access to education pushes people into poverty.
Unemployment leads to frustration, crime, and brain drain.
A society that fails to create job-ready youth will always remain unequal.

This is why investing in schools, colleges, and job-oriented courses is not just a policy decision—it’s a moral responsibility.

Government’s Role in Creating Equal Opportunities

During the event, Rao mentioned that governments should focus not only on building schools and colleges but also on ensuring the quality of education. He said students from rural areas often struggle because they don’t have the same access to English-medium teaching or computer labs as those in urban areas. This kind of inequality reflects in the job market too, where rural youth get fewer chances.

He also pointed out that:

Many graduates remain unemployed or underemployed because they are not industry-ready.
There is a big gap between what is taught in classrooms and what the job market demands.
Career counselling and vocational training should start at the school level.

According to him, if we want to see real change, we need long-term thinking and serious government commitment—not just one-time policies or election promises.

Importance of Social Harmony for Progress

One of the key messages Rao delivered was about unity. He said education should be a tool to unite people and not divide them. The minister raised concern about how communalism and polarisation are slowly taking attention away from important issues like job creation and educational reform.

He added that:

When youth are unemployed, they are more vulnerable to divisive ideologies.
Education can help people develop critical thinking and tolerance.
A strong education and employment ecosystem reduces dependence on populist politics.

He urged young people to stay informed, ask questions, and focus on real-life issues rather than distractions.