In Dt Next chennai on 3.2.2017 on NEET

FRI, FEB 03, 2017

In Dt Next  chennai on 3.2.2017

NEWS
TAMIL NADU
Stakeholders divided on TN NEET law
Published: Feb 03,201705:15 AM

Though the state government has passed an Act on National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (UG), (NEET) examinations providing a relaxation for candidates from Tamil Nadu, the move has only evoked mixed response from various sections.

NEET

Chennai: A majority supports the state’s move, fearing that the NEET will not augur well for those students who may benefit from the reservation and merit-based seat allocation by the state.

Neurologist and former vice-principal of K A P Viswanatham Government Medical College, Tiruchy M A Aleem said, “In Tamil Nadu, most of the students choose Tamil as their medium of instruction in schools. They are admitted into colleges on the basis of the marks they obtain in the board exam. These students will stand 80-90 per cent chance in getting admissions in private or government run colleges. But, when the NEET comes in, they will have to compete at the national level and their entry into medical colleges in the state will be reduced. Moreover, students from other states who come and study here may return to their natives. As a result, the health care service in TN will take a beating.”

Similarly, General Secretary of Doctors Association for Social Equality (DASE), G R Ravindranath said, “The quota of TN government in medical seats must be exempted from NEET. AIIMS and JIPMER must be brought under the ambit of NEET. The admissions must be done through a single window system and since the government is holding the exams, they must fix the fee to put an end to capitation fee. The government must bear the tuition fee of those students whose parents have an annual income of less than Rs 12 lakh. The association also opposed the exit test for doctors - NEXT.”

However, the teacher’s association is worried over the condition of students from rural areas as to how they would face the uniform national level examination. Tamil Nadu Teachers Association P K Illamaran said, “Students from state board syllabus, mainly from rural areas, cannot appear for a national level examination where the question paper is based on a CBSE syllabus. It does not mean that the students are not competent enough, but because of the vast difference in the syllabus.”  

Change India director A Narayanan said that the bill, which has many shortcomings, was tabled in a hurried manner. It could be struck down, when challenged in the Supreme Court. The claim is that the NEET would take away the seats of Tamil Nadu students. But, it should be noted that the seats were allocated on a quota basis. Many also allege that it would not bode well for rural students, even the current counselling system in the State was not giving a fair deal to them, he argued. Less than 1.5 per cent of students from government schools alone manage to get a medical seat in a government college which is a social injustice. “While this is the case, people claim NEET will bring in imbalance in admissions,” he said.