Doctor who?
The position of the NEET has left students and parents worried
About 45,600 seats in medical colleges in India. A new, single National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) proposed by the Medical Council of India (MCI) a couple of years ago as a single test for admission to medical and dental colleges, so that students do not have to go through the rigmarole of applying to different colleges in the country travelling everywhere and spending thousands, or even lakhs, on entrance exams.
Finally, at the hands of the Supreme Court, the announcement is quashed, leaving students unsure of how to prepare for the entrance exams next year! Although the three-judge bench has made it clear that its verdict will not affect the admissions which have already taken place, students and parents are now confused about next year.
“First, there was a problem of the text books and study material, since for a national level test, all the boards have to be on the same page as far as the syllabus in concerned. When that is resolved, this happens! These are never-ending woes for the Indian students,” says a disgruntled parent. He wishes that his daughter would just give up her dream of becoming a doctor and take up some other profession instead, because his family cannot bear the uncertainties anymore!
Many students feel that this was the one step that was taken in the interest of the students, where too, a loophole has been found. “Students this year were relaxed, since they could apply to several colleges on the basis of one exam, but they have to start running about again, from next year,” says Naomi Patel, first year MBBS student.
The NEET, which was not favouring the colleges’ systems of admission, has been set aside by the supreme courts. There is news that parents favouring the exam might get together and appeal to the ministry, but for now, the test it out. Although life of the NEET is under review, the lives of the aspirants certainly got more complicated.
