Western educational institutions use the multiple entry and exit system effectively, but Indian institutions are likely to encounter several challenges in implementing it, according to a parliamentary panel.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports, chaired by Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Thakur, stated in its report tabled in the Upper House last week that the institutions have not thought clearly about this problem and how they will address it when it arrives at their door.

"The New Education Policy (NEP) proposes multiple entry and exit points for students." While it appears to be a flexible system that is being implemented successfully by Western educational institutions, Indian institutions are likely to face several challenges in implementing this system. The estimated intake of students in higher education each year is quite high due to the large population.

"If institutions allow MEME (multiple entry and multiple exit), it will be extremely difficult for them to predict how many students will exit and how many will join midway." "Because institutions would not know the in- and out-traffic, it would undoubtedly disrupt the pupil-teacher ratio," according to the report.

The panel noted that the uneven geographical distribution of higher education institutions would create challenges in managing MEME in a number of areas, primarily in rural areas.

"The institutions have not thought very clearly about this problem and how they will resolve it when it is at their doorstep," said the statement.

According to the "Guidelines for Multiple Entry and Exit in Academic Programmes offered in Higher Education Institutions" issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC), flexible learning is important to choose one's academic pathway leading to the award of certificate, diploma, and degree.