Maharashtra: CET may be overlooked for BS.c Nursing program

Mumbai: With few entrants to the Bsc Nursing program, the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER), has asked the state government to forgo the Common Entrance Test (CET), requirements for admission to the course. Nursing entrants who failed to sit for the mandatory entrance examination will now be admitted on the basis of their class 12 marks. A request to this effect has been made to the state government by the DMER reports TOI.

1000 out of the 3000 available seats for BSc. Nursing lie vacant with no one applying for them.The homeopathy course also faces a similar fate; though ayurveda, unani, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and audiology seats have been filled.

While the National Entrance-cum-Eligibility Test (NEET),remained the basis of all medical and dental admissions, due to the April directive of the Supreme Court, all allied health science course aspirants to private and government institutes were admitted through the state conducted CET.

It is understood that the NEET criteria delayed medical and dental admissions, however, the allied course admissions were also delayed due to approval waits involved from apex regulatory bodies till November 30. This, despite the Centralized Admission Process (CAP) for admission to them having got over a week ago.

According to Principal, KJ Somiaya College of Nursing, Avani Oke, “The aspirants opt for allied courses when they fail to secure a seat in a medical college,” she said.

Despite an increase in enrollments, the demand for nursing courses continues to remain low, even though there is a huge demand for the nurse force in the state, said Oke.

“After Class 12, many students go for the more affordable diploma course in nursing, instead of the undergraduate program. Others don’t want to get into nursing due to low salaries and work pressure,” she added.

Commenting on the recent doing away of the CET exam, Oke said that it would certainly attract numbers, however,screening before acceptance of candidates remained of utmost importance.