Colleges question timing of NEET.

Sri Chaitanya Group of Institutions chairman B.S. Rao, has urged the State government to re-think over its reported decision to adopt the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for medical admissions in the State from next year.

Dr. Rao told a press conference that it was good to have a common entrance test nation-wide but the timing of the decision was wrong. There is lot of syllabus variation in science subjects across the country and State students would lose out with syllabus disparity ranging from 20 per cent to 50 per cent in chemistry and biology subjects. When just one mark makes difference to admissions in medical colleges such huge variation can create havoc with students ambitions. Moreover, Telugu medium students will find it almost difficult to attempt the test which would be in English and Hindi. Nearly 25 to 30 per cent of students who write EAMCET attempt it in Telugu medium.

Students in government colleges will be the most affected as it was impossible for them to plug the existing gap between state and central syllabus.

At least, the corporate colleges teach central syllabus to their students as they also appear for other national medical entrance exams. He said any change in such important entrance examinations should be informed to the students when they join the course so that they can prepare keeping the syllabus in view. He said even teachers were not prepared to teach the new syllabus.

Dr. Rao said he was in favour of a national entrance exam as students have to write seven to eight exams for various medical colleges but the critical decision has come late. It can be introduced from 2014 or at least next year. He also feared that parents and students would move the courts seeking justice.

Several academics are also questioning the haste with which the government has taken a decision.

Source : The Hindu