No need for NEET or NET

Free Thinker *

Frankly speaking it is very difficult to understand the logic to conduct large scale all Bharat exams like NEET or JEE or CUET etc. Once the student has passed the 12 Standard he or she must be allowed to apply in any college whether technical or non-technical on the basis of his/her subjects and score.

Let the college/institute take admission on the basis of merit – even for reserved categories. The same argument is applicable for lectureships or Assistant Professorship.

Once our children have passed MA or M.Sc or M.com they are eligible for teaching or any other profession (eligible) – the institution or the employer may fix the merit list according to the score of the applicants. Then, where is the need of NEET/NET/JEE?

The present NET/NEET trauma is a manifestation of a larger syndrome linked with the weakening education system and increasing job scarcity. In many countries the standard of education is high and quality of school education remains excellent. Admission in colleges or in technical institutions for Medical or Engineering etc.,, are based on the marks obtained in the schools.

Perhaps the argument in favor of the present system is - in Bharat since our educational standards are so fluctuating and quality compromised we are having entrance tests for quality check. For our technical or professional courses- the intake is based on a centralized entrance system. Even for humanities we are now having CUET.

Thus we are making the entire system too completive – rather a cut throat competition is hovering around all the time. Certainly it is because of the demand –supply gap. The employment opportunities have shrunk .

The educated unemployment is increasing by leaps and bounds in every State. NET is a gateway to lectureship. NEET(UG) is the entrance exam for an assured job. There is no unemployed Doctor in this country except for those who have got their degrees from foreign countries.

To me the problem is not NTA, the problem lies somewhere else. When there is scarcity of food you can’t blame the farmer or the producer for the increasing crimes. Poverty creates criminals and scarcity propagates scoundrels. NEET or NET, people want to grape it at any cost, by any means. The demand supply gap opens opportunities for exam fixers and job brokers.

In the last few weeks national exams conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) have hit the national headlines. Judiciary is bombarded with a series of litigations relating to NET and NEET. Many genuine students are affected by these happenings psychologically or otherwise also. The Apex Court has said that to act fairly and admit if there is any mistake in the conduct of the exam.

Regarding the cancellation of NET , it is because of some credible inputs from the Ministry of Home Affairs that there are chances of manipulations . The education Minister himself made an assurance that there will be high power committee to look into the entire things for further improvement and streamlining the system.

NET is the first national level exam which is scrapped after the introduction of a new anti-paper leak law in February .Proper investigation and fixing responsibility may provide an important lesson for the entire nation.

There are many instances of paper leaks or exam manipulations all over the country. Our State is also not free from such ailments. Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC ) conducted recruitment exams for the gazetted officers for the State Government. We all know at least 3 times the exams were scrapped due to manipulations or malpractices. The scarcity of government jobs is the real culprit .

Now,the complaints of irregularities in the NEET (UG) and JEE(Engineering) have put NTA under tremendous pressure. NET is scrapped due to the inputs from the cybercrime cell of the Ministry of Home affairs. Let us see what happens next. Many are trying to politicize the issue.

No authority has clarified why the NET exam is reverted back to off-line mode. Earlier it was conducted by CBSE till 2018, off-line. When it was handed over to NTA it became on-line – now suddenly it is made off-line.

We really don’t know which one is better for a vast country like ours. Sometimes we feel that on-line exams will be safer and easier to conduct. But the possibility of hacking and cyber manipulation is high. On the other hand the pen-paper exam is again very vulnerable to paper leaks.

As citizens what we may suggest is that whatever system or method the government adopts, it should be credible .People should have faith in that system. Otherwise the entire scenario will remain fragile and unreliable .If such a leaking scenario continues – the situation will become chaotic and more political.

The centralizing tendency is really creating problems; let the regions have their own admission exams and entrance tests, if not State-wise; that will be easier to supervise and monitor. For instance, NEET, JEE, NET etc., may be conducted in 10/12 zones – if at all to continue. Even for the UPSC recruitment exam, it may be conducted region wise – of course posting should be done on Akhand Bharat basis.