Tamil Nadu: Medical aspirants reel under pressure of NEET

Tamil Nadu: Medical aspirants in the state continue to feel the pressure of national competitive examinations like NEET. If we go by simple statistics in the last two years, only one-fourth students qualified (of those who appeared)-in the all-India medical entrance test from Tamil Nadu.

TOI has reported an RTI reply from Central Board of Examinations which shows that less than 10% of students from Tamil Nadu - across all boards - clear the all-India medical entrance. In 2011, 9,514 students from the state appeared for the exam and 207 qualified, the next year 10,187 students took the exam and 273 cleared it. 2013 was the only year which saw a considerable improvement when 11,019 of the 22,073 students who had appeared reported a positive check.

This academic year, with Supreme Court’s final verdict on state CET, many aspiring students seeking admissions in medical colleges, have more to worry about. Even, private universities have not been granted permission to hold their own medical admission tests. With this all the students have now to prepare for the NEET patten exam, which is different from the state pattern exam

This leaves students with very little chance to get admission in colleges in their own state. Usually, they try to get an admission in medical colleges in the state or through management quota.

Officials, on the other hand are also concerned about the fact that NEET will only lead to a situation where other students are benefiting from the subsidized medical education in the state. Rs 60,000 is the total course fee which also includes the hostel charges.

One common reason cited for the aptitude of local students in Tamil Nadu, or any other vernacular state in South is the state board syllabus. The local syllabus they follow continues to hamper the dreams of many students who choose to appear for competitive examinations. In most cases, majority of the students do not even attempt it.