CHENNAI: Educationists are opposing the state government's decision to conduct the MBBS counselling based wholly on Neet (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test) ranks saying this would turn higher secondary classes into Neet coaching centres. The state government, while stressing that it still trying for Neet exemption, has announced that MBBS admission will be done based on Neet ranks alone. It has also reserved 85 per cent seats controlled by it for state board students and 15 per cent seats for other boards.
“The reservation has no logic behind it. Among the MBBS aspirants, how many are from the state board and how many are from CBSE and other boards?” asked P.Swaminathan, secretary, SRV schools in Namakkal and Tiruchi districts. He further said “All schools will switch to Neet-focused coaching now. If a student prepares two years for Neet he would surely get more than 500 marks in the medical entrance exam compared to plus 1 and plus 2 board exams. The teachers also need preparation.”
“Private schools will effectively focus on medical aspirants and non-medical aspirants. It is now unavoidable. Rural and Tamil medium students will find it difficult to score high marks in Neet and get the seat," he added. “Instead of allocating 85 per cent seats to state board students, the government should give weightage to both Neet and board exam marks," said Sami Sathymoorthy, state president, Tamil Nadu High and Higher secondary schools Headmasters Association.
“The state government's decision to consider Neet ranks alone will put question marks over plus 1 and plus 2 coaching. If government considers both marks for MBBS admissions, then only the poor and rural students can join MBBS,” he said. Terming Neet as a centralised exam, educationist V. Vasanthidevi said, "The centre is dominating all basic decisions on education and it's not acceptable. The federal system is almost a mockery now." But she also called for a change in current teaching methodology in schools. “Our whole education system or examination system has one single goal of getting marks. There is nothing like developing the understanding of children in classrooms,” she said.
