The NEET and its fault lines!

 

As this Bulbul planned its moves to reach the bush to get its berry in the morning today in our garden, I noticed how fulfilled it looked !

I have been reading various reports about the student protests in various parts of India to express their grief over malpractices associated with NEET examination for medical admissions. It was when I saw the Bulbul above feeling fulfilled, I got yet another pointer to the unfulfilled aspirations of the students. 

I recall how 19.99 lac students appeared for the NEET in 2025, and 11.21 lac students were qualified. Only 1.25 lac students could join for the medical course out of those who were eligible.  

The first NEET in 2013, was struck down by the honourable Supreme Court of India as unconstitutional. In 2016, the Supreme Court recalled its earlier judgement and mandated NEET as the uniform, single-window medical entrance test. The responsibility to conduct the NEET was handed over to the National Testing Agency in 2019. Earlier it was conducted by the CBSE. 

The leakage of the examination papers is a criminal offence with huge financial transactions and students are tired of this malpractice. The preparation for NEET for students starts during the plus two season. Some take a a year break after the plus two to join coaching programme to qualify in the NEET. 

Is it not time for the medical fraternity in India to raise a voice of concern to have one single entrance test? The education is in the concurrent list of the constitution, which makes the state government a partner with the government of India in making policy decisions!  Why is that the state governments were not consulted when NEET was introduced. 

Now the fault lines having been discovered a few times in the recent examinations, is it not time to have a relook at the appropriateness of the NEET which lays a burden on students financially and studying subjects one more time which the students did to qualify to pass the plus two examination. Is not NEET only a test of memory? What an aspirant to study medicine needs is logical thinking, problem solving skills, analytical skills, personal qualities of empathy and ethical values and  an aptitude for self-giving service.  These essentials are not tested in NEET. What is peripheral is over emphasised in NEET exam. A student having got 80 percent or more marks in science subjects is clever enough to study medicine. If at all an entrance test is required it ought to be test the aptitude. 

I feel saddened to think that the ministers in the central government are silent seeing the distress of students who were pushed to go on this protest movement !

Why is the medical fraternity silent about finding an option to NEET !

Why are the state governments not forthcoming to ask for a dialogue on the NEET and an alternative pathway to choose students for  medical study!

There are many educational philosophers in this country who can intervene to diffuse the protest and engage students to find a way forward by suggesting an alternative to NEET.  

This country owes a better approach of consolation and affirmation towards students and not a police action on them.  They are forced to protest about the failure of the government to conduct the NEET examination fairly! 

The Bulbul makes the effort and feels fulfilled. 

Our students make best of their efforts and remain unfulfilled. 

Should we not care to give students a better selection process for medical studies? 

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)