Maharashtra: Doctors demand Common Syllabus For Common NEET Exam

Maharashtra: It seems like the state is likely to request CBSE to reconsider the final decision on NEET. CBSE has not yet given any final notification on the matter. The state is likely to seek approval from CBSE to make the NEET phase II as the first attempt for students, while students who have appeared for AIPMT and MHCET last year and this year be treated as fresh candidates.

"Students need not worry on losing out on their attempt as we are planning to put in a request to the CBSE regarding the same," said Director of Medical Education at the state, Praveen Shingare told the Mumbai mirror.

Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) has registered an official grievance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking for common basic syllabus based only on 12th standard syllabus. The organisation reasoned that Supreme Court’s recent verdict on NEET has put many students in a stressful situation.

Students have been preparing for the state CETs which is solely based on the 12^th standard syllabus of respective state.However, the proposed NEET is based on CBSE syllabus which is much different and tougher than respective state syllabus. Moreover, the portion for the exam is being based on 11 and 12th standard both which has not been the case in respective state CET exams.

Dr Sagar Mundada, President MARD, explained, “We have put a formal request to consider the future of around 6 lakh students and future doctors of the country and immediately set up a committee to form the BASIC COMMON SYLLABUS (topics which are common to all state boards) and include topics of 12th standard syllabus only.”

He also said that, “It seems that HSC students have not given NEET 1 by choice, and were forced to do so. On the other hand, many CBSE students gave the NEET 1 as AIPMT itself. Now, they are getting a second chance to give NEET 2, which promises to be an easier exam. If you tell any student, "I know your exam has been difficult, I'm giving you two months more and an easier paper at the end," they are going to give it again. It's only logical. Thus, the CBSE students, who are already well versed with the syllabus, will get to give NEET twice, scoring much better than their HSC batch mates who have had only two months to prepare for the same exam, and thereby they will be getting a better chance at medical seats in Maharashtra. Ultimately, it is our poor students, our rural students who are suffering, while the CBSE students will make it through this year, because they have been granted an advantage.”

“Also, one merit list for both exams does not make sense. Again, this gives the CBSE students an edge. So, another option would be to completely scrap NEET-1, just like they have scrapped MHT-CET. All the students, irrespective of board, should sit for NEET 2. The syllabus should be the minimum common syllabus, that is, the chapter’s common between the CBSE and the HSC Boards,” he added

Parents stage protests

Parents of over 200 medical aspirants protested at Azad Maidan recently. Using different signage’s that read, ‘India playing with future of medical students’, ‘Study 2 years’ curriculum in 2 months. Is it justified?’, it was a silent protest of two hours near the station.

Thirty students joined the protest. Many of the students had appeared for the second time in a row for MHCET, and disheartened to learn that the exam holds no validation. A signature campaign with an attached letter to President and the Prime Minister will be send, while parents mull over challenging the decision legally.

Parents were seen holding placards and posters, fighting for the future of their children. Their protest was in support of bringing back MHCET-which has been conducted in May, seeing participation from more than 4 lakh medical aspirants. The common sentiment, during the protest, was collectively against the abrupt implementation of NEET, with parents complaining that a two-month window was too short a time.

The problem is further compounded by the fact that the students have to prepare for a new syllabus, in such a short span of time, and also, there are no books available in the local areas. This situation has put both parents and their children in extreme stress.

"I missed my chance to get into a government medical college by five marks last year," said Zainab Engineer, a 19-year-old aspirant to Mumbaimirror. "I did not want my parents to shell out a lot of money to get me admitted into a deemed or private university and hence decided to study for an entire year. This time my CET went very well and I was confident about a good score, but I have no clue how to begin studying for the NEET."

One of the protesting parents, Ajay Gupta, said to Midday that, “Parents have together and shown great support. We hope that our efforts are fruitful and we manage to make the authorities realize our plight. It is not possible to prepare for NEET in just two months. Not only does it have a completely new syllabus, but also books are not available in the market. While our children have started preparing for NEET, we parents will continue our struggle to bring back CET.”

It is amidst the confusion and stress that the parents have resorted to taking the protest route. Though they welcome the decision, it is the implementation of the decision in a short timeframe that has upset the parents. One-level national test is a good concept, as it reduces pressure on students, however, the students have been preparing for MHCET for two years now, the media report implied.

The pressure of coaching can be gauged by the fact when a parent in her statement implied that her daughter’s coaching started from 7.45 am till 3.00 pm every day. The student is required to prepare from the scratch. Sudden implementation is not a wise call. Moreover the students are confused that if the stay order on NEET comes later, they will end up paying that extra amount for taking coaching classes.

The decision on NEET also applies to ten Super Speciality courses at the state, which include Cardiology, Nephrology, Plastic surgery, Paediatric surgery, Urology and Neurology. The exam for this is scheduled for June 10. However, students may be required to reply as there is a new application process in place now by CBSE. An official notification is expected soon.