NEET issue continues to be a mixed bag

NEET issue raises its hood again

National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) has been in news since the time of its inception for both right and wrong reasons. Previously, the Supreme Court had given time to the Centre to hold discussions with the States in order to come to a conclusion regarding conducting NEET throughout the country quashing the conventional method of separate entrance exams by various private medical institutes for MBBS and BDS aspirants. However, some of the states like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu had opposed NEET on the following grounds,

• It is going to be conducted in Hindi and English, will do injustice to those students who can write the exam only in their regional language

• The syllabus of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is completely different from the syllabus prescribed by the State Boards. Therefore, it would be difficult for the students to prepare themselves for the exam by reading a sheer new syllabus.

What happened to Phase 2 of NEET, supposed to be conducted on July 24?

It is a well known fact that the test was supposed to be held on 24 July 2016 as Phase 2 exam. However, the difference of opinion between the Centre and the States regarding the implementation of the exams took the matter to the Apex Court, where it was decided that the tests would be held on the aforementioned date without fail. The Centre had borrowed time from the court to hold discussion with the States regarding the same.

The States stood firm on their decision of deferring NEET to next academic year due to the two significant reasons mentioned above. The mounting pressure lead to issuance of an ordinance by the Centre to defer the exams.

A mixed bag

The common entrance test has been attracting mixed reactions all over the country from the Apex Court to the MBBS and BDS aspirants. The various viewpoints can be summed up as below:

• The Supreme Court is in favour of implementing NEET throughout the country as a uniform test with a uniform syllabus. This would avoid the confusion and pressure among the students as they need not prepare for a variety of exams studying different syllabuses.

• The Central Government too has been working hard in order to put the entrance test into practice prescribing CBSE syllabus.

• Some of the States have been opposing the aforesaid exam because they are concerned about the major chunk of MBBS and BDS aspirants, who can take written tests only in their regional languages. Conducting the exams in Hindi and English alone would be unfair.

• Dr. Gulshan Garg, a doctor and chairman of Sankalp Charitable Trust told Business Standard, "All the objections are really an eyewash. The real reason for continuing with the old system is to continue with the practice of huge capitation fee prevalent in private medical colleges. I get calls and e-mails from students. All of them are very happy with the introduction of NEET. But, an impression is given now that it will not be helpful for students. I think it is wrong. NEET should be held without any delay now."

• The parents are, no doubt, concerned about the amount of pressure their kids will undergo if the exams are to be conducted on July 24 since they have to study a completely new syllabus in just two months.

• As far as the students are concerned, some of them want the exams to be deferred and some are glad that there would be a single test to get admission to their favourite courses across the country.

The country has witnessed ebb and flow of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test and the future of the students in question is really a serious concern that needs a sensitive approach from the concerned authorities. Though the Apex Court was approached to avoid the chaos regarding the entrance test, there seems to be no end to the chaotic events at present. Now, all eyes are set on the Centre and the respective States who would hopefully come up with a clean solution, which is highly required to allow the MBBS and BDS aspirants prepare a runway to fly towards their dreams.