Neet against social justice, says educationist

Chennai: Reacting to the remarks of Justice N. Kirubakaran of Madras high court on Neet, senior educationist S.S. Rajagopal said, “The failure to provide quality education to all the children even after 70 years of Independence is shameful.”

During the hearing of a case, Justice N Kirubakaran asked the government pleader, “Is it not a shame to seek exemption from National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Neet) for Tamil Nadu?”

The Tamil Nadu government’s Act seeking exemption from Neet is awaiting the President’s assent and it has created a statewide debate.

After receiving the first copy of the book on “Why Neet is against the social justice and federal structure” in the city on Friday, Mr Rajagopal said, “Even after the implementation of the Right to Education Act, we are not able to ensure the education for all the children.”

“The students from CBSE schools are not able to prepare for the competitive exams based on their classroom coaching alone. Those who attend the coaching classes alone are able to clear the entrance exams like JEE and Neet. So, we do not need exams like Neet for our state,” he said.

While opposing Neet, he also stressed the need to prepare the state board students for the competitive exams. “Those exams are based on multiple choice based questions (MCQs). We have to improve the MCQs in our board exams to at least 50 per cent marks,” he urged.

PB Prince Gajendrababu, general secretary, State Platform for Common School System, said, “There are already complaints that the coaching institutes are collecting exorbitant amounts for Net coaching. If the Neet is conducted then only those who can afford the coaching classes can alone dream of medical courses.”

“Though Neet is to be conducted in nine languages, there are not enough materials available in Indian languages for the students to prepare for the exam,” he said.

He also said, “It is the central government’s responsibility to get the President’s assent to the Tamil Nadu Act seeking exemption from the Neet.”

The 48-page book compiled by professor N. Mani has many articles written by Justice D. Hariparanthaman and others.

Tamil Nadu Health Development Association president Dr CS Rex Sargunam and Tamil Nadu Students Parents Welfare Association president S. Arumainathan also participated.