Jayalalithaa does not want NEET in Tamil Nadu

National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is postponed to the next academic year with the signature of President Pranab Mukherjee on the ordinance. However, Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa is not in favour of NEET neither for the next academic year nor in the following years. In her opinion, making NEET compulsory in Tamil Nadu would prove a bane for those medical aspirants who come from rural areas as they cannot prepare at the same pace and level as the urban candidates do. Moreover, implementation of NEET would disturb the "socio-economic objectives" of the state.

She also said that students from rural areas have been following the syllabus prescribed by the state, and forcing them to write a national level common entrance test means they have to put aside whatever they have been studying so far and adapt to the syllabus of CBSE and write exam alongside those students who have undergone required training at coaching classes in cities. NEET prevents candidates with poor financial conditions from accessing medical and dental courses since their pattern of education differs from those in urban areas; consequently, their future would be chaotic.

A letter to PM Narendra Modi on NEET

In her letter to PM Narendra Modi, she wrote that since 2005 there are no entrance exams for the aspirants to do MBBS and BDS courses. This measure was taken keeping in view the interests of students, particularly from the weaker sections and rural areas, to ensure that a level playing field is created. Introduction of NEET would be a direct infringement on the rights of the State and would cause grave injustice to the students of Tamil Nadu who have already been covered by a fair and transparent admission policy laid down by the Government of Tamil Nadu, which has been working well.

She further stated that Tamil Nadu Government has also successfully obtained and enforced bonds from those completing Postgraduate education in Government Medical Colleges to serve the state government for a minimum period, which has helped the government meet the need for efficient doctors in Government Hospitals.

Therefore, introduction of NEET would invalidate the implementation of the above mentioned policy initiatives and socio-economic objectives of the State, as the regulations for a National Test such as NEET may not have such enabling provisions. The national test does not suite the prevailing socio-economic atmosphere and administrative requirements of the state. [Source: The Indian Express]