COIMBATORE: Due to uncertainty over the exemption for Tamil Nadu students from writing National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), Anna University and Higher Education department officials are unable to finalise the schedule of Tamil Nadu Engineering Admission (TNEA) this year.
Usually, the TNEA single window counselling is held after the commencement of medical counselling. This has been followed to prevent students from migrating to medical courses after appearing for engineering counselling as this led to several seats remaining vacant in premier engineering colleges. “Since there is no clarity on the exemption of NEET for the Tamil Nadu students, finalising online application registration and counselling dates for the TNEA is delayed. We are expecting a clear picture in a week or 10 days and TNEA schedule will be finalised soon,” says a highly placed source in the university.
Last year, Anna University had commenced online registration of TNEA application from April 15 and online registration was allowed till end of May. The single window counselling for allotment of seats began from June 24 and continued till July.
This year, Plus Two public examinations have ended in March and the results are likely to be published on May 12. Students who aspire to pursue engineering education are eagerly awaiting for the TNEA application and counselling dates. TNEA Secretary J Indumathi says, “Last year, the TNEA application commenced in the second week of April, as the university introduced online application process. To create awareness, the application process started early.”
Tamil Nadu in February has passed two bills seeking to exempt the State from the NEET.