Unified Opposition to NEET
Tamil Nadu’s political landscape is united in its opposition to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay reiterated the state’s demand for the exam’s abolition during a meeting with the Nandan Nilekani-led task force on exam reforms on Wednesday.
Political Consensus
According to The New Indian Express, all major political parties in Tamil Nadu – including the TVK, DMK, and AIADMK – share a common stance against NEET. The Centre is urged to take this political consensus seriously.
Assembly Resolution
On August 11, the Tamil Nadu Assembly unanimously passed a resolution demanding the abolition of NEET and a return to medical admissions based on Class 12 marks. The lone BJP member present in the House walked out during the proceedings.
Historical Resistance
Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed NEET since its implementation in 2017. Concerns center on the exam’s potential to disadvantage students from less privileged backgrounds who may lack access to expensive coaching resources.
Government School Struggles
Government school students have faced challenges in securing medical seats after NEET was introduced. The AIADMK government responded with a 7.5 percent reservation for these students, enabling hundreds to enter medical colleges. However, this measure did not address the underlying issue of unequal access to resources.
Repeat Candidates and the Quota
The Justice A K Rajan committee, appointed by the DMK government, highlighted how NEET favors repeat candidates. In 2020-21, repeat candidates accounted for 71.42 percent of MBBS admissions outside the 7.5 percent quota. This year, all top 10 rankers under the quota were repeat candidates.
Unequal Opportunities
The report emphasizes that a school-leaver preparing for NEET while also managing Class 12 board exams faces a significant disadvantage compared to a candidate who has spent an additional year preparing specifically for the exam. Both candidates may be in the same examination hall, but their preparation pathways have differed substantially.
Source: The New Indian Express. Featured image credit: The New Indian Express.
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