Government has announced a Joint Entrance Examination, JEE from 2013 for admission into the central funded engineering institutions such as Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) , National Institutes of Technolgy (NITs) and Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIITs).

Joint Councils of these institutes also decided that as part of reform in the Examination system, the results of Class 12 examination too would be given due weightage towards entrance.

Announcing this at a press conference in New Delhi, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said a Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) will have a new format consisting of two tests JEE main and JEE advanced which would to be conducted on the same day. For IIT, 50 per cent weightage each would be given to Class XII Board result and main test.

He said for all other centrally funded institutions, 40 per cent weightage for class 12th examination, 30 per cent weightage for performance in JEE-main and 30 per cent weightage in JEE advanced would be given. The proposed changes will be effective from 2013. These reforms in longer term will improve the quality of secondary education.

The minister also said those students who have appeared in the 12th board examinations in 2012 and wish to improve upon their performance can appear again for the board examinations in 2013. Mr Sibal informed that a meeting of the state education ministers' is proposed for 5th of next month where the participation of states in the common national test process would be deliberated upon.

Mr Sibal informed that two day international policy dialogue forum on teachers for education for all will begin tomorrow in New Delhi. The minister said it will be co-organized by the International Task Force on Teachers for Education for All (EFA) and the Ministry of Human Resource Development.

The minister said the meet will focus specifically on Teacher Challenges for Education for All in India and will provide a platform for discussion on inclusive education and public-private partnerships to address the issue. Mr Sibal said the government has earmarked 6,300 crore rupees for teacher education mission in the 12th plan.