The NEET dispute highlights the necessity for a comprehensive assessment system that considers the needs and goals of hundreds of students. The controversy surrounding the NEET exam, including 67 students receiving perfect scores, 1563 students receiving grace marks due to technical glitches, parents and candidates complaining about paper leaks, and the Opposition’s outrage over the entire process, is expected to disrupt the new Parliament session. Although the matter has reached the Supreme Court, the immediate concern is for the 24 lakh applicants whose future remains uncertain.
Since its creation in 2013, NEET has experienced opposition from southern states, particularly Tamil Nadu, due to the exam’s reliance on the CBSE syllabus, while many states use their own boards.
This disadvantages state board students. Suicide rates in Tamil Nadu highlight the challenges students face when pursuing medical education. The National Testing Agency (NTA) failed to conduct the NEET-UG examination successfully this year. The organization’s decision to withhold grace marks and retest 1563 candidates lacks confidence in its competence to pick future medical professionals in India. The NTA informed the Supreme Court of its decision to retest a limited number of students. Dharmendra Pradhan, the newly appointed Education Minister in the NDA government, has denied any document leaks but acknowledges that the NTA need significant revamping.
The Opposition is calling for a Supreme Court-monitored examination into the controversy. It is evident that the entire system requires a revamp. In India, the government rarely addresses medical education in depth. While hefty capitation fees have decreased, the NEET exam is still causing difficulties for many applicants, particularly those from rural areas and smaller towns. This year, bureaucratic inefficiency affects not just 24 lakh candidates, but also their families. Parents often invest heavily in their children’s future, with a focus on pursuing a profession in medicine or engineering.
The NEET debate was not anticipated by the new Centre government during its first term. Despite Pradhan’s accusation that the opposition is causing unnecessary controversy, the nationwide protests are a spontaneous manifestation of people’s dissatisfaction. The government must address the fears and anxieties of students.
ABHISHEK VERMA
Author: This news is edited by: Abhishek Verma, (Editor, CANON TIMES)
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