The Centre’s call to defer the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) exam by one year received mixed views from various university professors. While most of them were not in favour, a few said that the move would give students a fair time to prepare.
“It needs to be looked into the overall approach of the Modi government towards higher education, which is clearly favouring private players. The move will help private medical colleges where the money counts, not merit. Appear-ing in numerous entrance examinations is arduous task for the students. It is not good for students coming from the weaker sections of our society,” said DUTA executive and professor Rajesh Kumar Jha.
On the contrary, Jamia Milia Islamia University professor Devansh Kumar said, “It is good that NEET has been postponed because if no student would have been able to clear this examination, then he would be left out. NEET would jeopardise careers of lakhs of students applying for MBBS and BDS courses in the country. The syllabus for the state examination is different and the students giving exam in regional languages would also have a problem.”
Phase-I of NEET is over and the Phase-II was scheduled to take place on July 24. However, several states, students and teachers had been opposing this common examination from across the country.
“The decision of the PM to postpone NEET to next year is really fair to the education system and also he has done justice with the students as they will now get a fair time to prepare for their exams. It’s about their career and our PM really played it safe. This is all about shaping future India,” Chetan Chaudhary, a DU professor, said.
While criticizing this whole ordinance as a way to deny the meritorious students an opportunity to pursue medical education, an Ambedkar University professor said, “NEET was necessary to avoid malpractices during admissions. Many undeserving people are getting seats in private medical colleges by shelling out huge amounts. A lot of students are still in favour of this change.”
