New conditions for NEET send parents, aspirants in a tizzy

Tribune News Service

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has recently introduced a cap on the number of attempts and the upper age limit for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). According to the new condition, a candidate can appear only thrice, that too until the age of 25.

While the government is yet to issue a notification in this regard, the decision has evoked mixed reactions. 

Naina Shekhawat, parent of a student who is preparing for NEET, says, “If a student makes continuous attempts after Class 12, he or she will become ineligible at the age of 20. This is unreasonable as the student will still have five-year eligibility as per the new rules but no chance left to appear.”

Another parent Neena Singh says she feels candidates should at least be given five attempts which she terms as a reasonable chance.

Students who could not get admission last year are under tremendous pressure to make it through this time, said Sunil Mehta, whose son is set to appear for his second attempt this year. 

“Last year, there was chaos caused by the Supreme Court and this year, new rules. Things are only getting tougher for medical aspirants,” his son rued.

Meanwhile, educationists feel the cap on the number of attempts and age is a welcome move.

Dr Arvind Goyal, city-based NEET trainer, said, “Although very few students take more than three attempts but still it is good to limit the number of attempts as it will discourage the non-serious students to appear in the exam without complete preparation. It is also best for those who are unsuccessful in clearing it even the third time to explore their potential in other allied branches.

Dr Goyal further said, “The age cut-off age at 25 years also seems reasonable as candidates who complete their MBBS/ BDS at a late age find it difficult to further clear the NEET PG and settle down in the profession.”

Notably, this year, nearly four lakh students are expected to take NEET, which will be held on May 7.

Following complaint by educationist, PMO assures action

Following a complaint by city-based educationist about cut off for NEET being brought down, the Prime Minister’s office has assured suitable action.

In a letter to the PMO, Dr Arvind Goyal, city-based NEET expert, has noted a number of issues which adversely affected the deserving candidates in the admission year 2016.

Dr Goyal has noted that in the absence of any central regulatory authority, many private colleges and deemed universities increased the fee for MBBS course according to their own suitability.

“Many aspirants who were high on merit were not able to afford it and eventually the seats were taken by candidates who had the money even if they had 20.13 per cent,” the letter states.

Dr Goyal also urged the PMO look into the matter of cut off score. The letter quotes NEET UG 2016 prospectus - When sufficient number of candidates in respective categories fail to secure minimum marks as prescribed in the NEET UG held for any academic year, the Central Government may lower the minimum marks required for admission to MBBS/BDS courses for candidates belonging to respective categories.

“Why the cut off scores should be reduced in any respective category if enough candidates belonging to general category are eligible to apply for those seats?” he questions, adding that MBBS course deals with human life and lowering cut off could cost dear.

Dr Goyal has noted that in the session 2016-17, all MBBS and BDS admissions in private colleges and deemed universities were done based on the merit of NEET UG 2016 but due to absence of streamlined centralised counseling by the respective state authorities, the private medical colleges and deemed universities held their own counselings by inviting applications on their own. Many aspirants were not aware of these. Moreover, closely placed or overlapping dates of counseling meant many aspirants could not attend these. 

The letter further adds that many private medical colleges given permission by the MCI to run MBBS course have poor hospital infrastructure and no patients. They inflate their fee structure for profiteering.

Significantly, Dr Goyal’s letter received a reply from the PMO, assuring suitable action. — TNS