Does NEET promise a better future for medical aspirants?
Introduction:When Medical Council of India introduced NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) to replace all other entrance exams for admission to medical colleges in India, there were instant uproars everywhere. This exam is to replace all the entrance tests like AIPMT Prelims and Mains, AIIMS, BHU, AFMC, JIPMER and AMU.
Supreme Court is being challenged again and again, sometimes by ministers, other times by private institutes and then by parents for a second thought in this matter. However, SC seems determined enough not to be moved by any amount of pressure coming from political sources.
NEET is to be conducted in two phases. The first phase in May and the second in July. The joint result will be published in August. Medical students are left perplexed by the sudden change in the examination system that is to decide their futures. The idea of common medical entrance should have been a relief for students but it rather agitated them because of its implementation starting this year itself.
Yes:1. Saving big on time and money: There are only a limited number of seats for MBBS students across India. For those seats, the number of entrance tests conducted all over the country, including the private colleges, would one day outrun the number of students they are about to take in. All the application forms and their fee, add travel expenses to various states for appearing different entrances, and it is clear that a single common test for medical is so much of a better option, economical as well as time saving.
2. Reducing pressure: Less entrance tests for admission into medical colleges will reduce the pressure off the shoulders of students who live in constant anxiety while preparing for various tests, covering too many different types of syllabuses that differ with board and states. They will now have to concentrate on a single pattern or syllabus that could guide them through the single common entrance test. Less burden would also make the students more confident and determined.
3. Fair chance: All students will have fair chance to secure admission in any college in any state. They could get admission into the most prestigious college in the country by appearing at the same entrance exam that would determine where they stand a chance against all the competition and race for admission. It would also deprioritize center and state boards as they have been constantly complaining that some state boards or center board students have better chance at cracking a particular entrance. Since coaching for entrance preparations are already popular, students will be enjoying an equal opportunity to secure their future.
4. Goodbye to corruption at private medical colleges: Though all colleges claim to take admission solely on the basis of merit and results of entrances, the back office corruption is also very popular. Taking hefty donations to secure seats have been practiced in various colleges where less worthy students still find seat despite not faring well at the required entrance test for the particular college. It will be every general student’s bliss to get rid of this evil.
5. More time: In AIPMT Prelims, students were required to solve 200 questions in just 3 hours timeframe. In NEET, they are required to solve only 180 questions in the same time duration. Getting more time to think and concentrate will be a plus. Students will be less nervous about missing out questions and they will benefit from the extra time they will be getting to look thoroughly into the questions. They will have better chances at getting better grades.
No:1. Unfair for rural students: Experts who are reviewing NEET are of the view that the syllabus is not uniform for rural and urban students and that it would be entirely unfair for rural students looking forwards towards securing a seat at a reputed medical college.
2. Waiting an entire year: Missing out on NET for any reason will leave you waiting for an entire years for appearing in the next medical entrance.
3. State level forms were already out: This year’s application form for the state level medical entrance like UPCPMT, CG PMT, MHT CET, WBJEE were already out and filled by students when the announcement for NEET came in. The 90 application forms to be made into one which was the main reason for protest is actually going to be 91 added with NEET. It would have been so much better and economical if NEET was to commence from 2017.
4. Disturbing the flow: Students take coaching and prepare to crack the medical entrances after two or three years of hard work, an effort based solely on the determined syllabus. There must be many who should be well versed for the entrance only to suddenly face a change in plan. Some states grant admission on basis of marks secured at 12th like Tamil Nadu. Now they are dreaded to face an entirely different pattern of entrance for which they are at all prepared.
5. No time for tuitions: Since most of the students got the idea that it would only be another years when the new system will be implemented, they were not prepared or took extra coaching for NEET. Students of rural areas would not have the facility of taking advanced preparatory coaching at all. The so called ‘fair chance’ is nothing but a vague statement that will only be applicable when implemented through years of preparations and planning.
Conclusion:Supreme Court is being overtly autocratic on students and state in an attempt to curb corruption and save time and money. They should have taken to the suggestions of students and ministers who have been agitated over the decision which came all too soon and definitely at the wrong time.
NEET could be a huge success towards the better future of medical aspirants but only when planned properly, taking into view the different requisites of rural students and students from states that have long followed the pattern of admission through 12th marks.
