NEET Puzzles Telugu Students

HYDERABAD: With the Supreme Court giving its nod to the National Entrance-cum-Eligibility Test (NEET) three days prior to the exam, both students and medical colleges in the Telugu states were thrown into ambiguity as no one actually knows how it works.

The questions such as whether the students of Telugu-speaking states would be eligible for the exam and what would happen to the constitutional power of minority colleges are being raised.

While there is a section of people who claim that students of Telugu states are exempted from this ruling due to some constitutional issues, others are of the opinion that irrespective of whether students are exempted or not, they should have been given more time to adjust to this new change.

The SC on Thursday accepted the proposal mooted by the Centre and the Medical Council of India (MCI) to hold NEET for undergraduate and postgraduate medical and dental courses in government and private institutions in two phases this year. However, the court reserved the verdict, which effectively means that more than 6 lakh students, who are preparing for the All India Pre Medical Test (AIPMT), scheduled to he held on May 1, have no clarity on whether or not the exam will be held as per schedule.

“The concept is good and would be beneficial as the students get two chances in a year to clear the exam, but the timing could have been better. I don’t think any student from AP or Telangana has applied for the exam as we are not eligible for AIPMT, so it won’t be a major problem here. However, students of other states would be affected immensely,” said A Krishna Kishore, who is doing his internship at a private hospital.

“Why change things two days before the exam? It sounds ridiculous. We’re not against NEET but it would be better if the whole exam is conducted in a single phase on July 24. Also, we would like to get some clarity on whether we are eligible to apply for NEET phase 2,” Jagadeep A, a medical student from Hyderabad, told Express.

As AP, Telangana and Jammu & Kashmir had opted out of All India Scheme since its inception, students from these states are not eligible for 15 pc all India quota. Throwing more light on the issue, Dr Dileep Mathai, Dean, Apollo Institute of Medical Science and Research, opined that there is no clarity on the issue. “Our education is in turmoil. They are just saying that NEET would be conducted, but what are the implications?” he said.

“What would happen to minority colleges? The basic reason why these colleges are established is to give more opportunity to minority students. Again, asking them to compete at national level  makes no sense,” he added.

“We are an autonomous institute, so these rules won’t apply to us. So, whether NEET will be conducted or not is not really our concern,” Dr Kandakatla Manohar, Director of Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences, said.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com