National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, NEET 2021 examination dates for the undergraduate medical admissions has not been announced as yet. As per reports, senior officials from health, education ministry as well as National Testing Agency would meet on Monday – January 25 to discuss the modalities of the exam this year. Possibility of conducting NEET 2021 online and twice a year in on the agenda for the panel’s discussion.
As per the report, the senior officials would be meeting to discuss the possibility of conducting the examination in computer based mode – like the JEE Main. Dr. Rakesh Yadav, President, Faculty Association of AIIMS is for conducting NEET twice a year.
NEET undergraduate examination for admission to MBBS/BDS courses in the country is one of the largest competitive examinations in the world. As many as 16 lakh candidates register every year for the examination. After recent measures taken by the Ministry of Education in regards conducting JEE Main 2021 four times, many students have asked for more attempts at NEET. As per latest development, students might just get their wish.
“A student may not be able to appear due to various reasons or may have a bad day. Therefore, like engineering entrance, NEET too can be conducted multiple times,” Yadav told TOI. Dr. S Kumar, Chancellor of Sri DevCaraj Urs University in Kola also feels that ‘one bad day should not result in wasting an academic year’
He also points out that the online mode of examination is an effective and efficient mode of testing across the world. However, with NEET, the modalities have to be checked and the testing agency, NTA would be sharing the logistics of the same on Monday. Dr. Yadav has said that is NTA can manage the logistics, conducting NEET twice a year could be a good idea.
Industry experts too have pointed out that in the times of pandemic, conducting an online examination would be the way forward. As for the number of attempts, with NEET the only examination in the country for admission to medical education, experts have been asking for possibility of multiple attempts. More so because of the resultant delays due to COVID19 this year.
Final decision, however, lies with the Health Ministry. In the interaction with students, Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal has agreed to discuss the matter and the possibility of conducting the exam in online mode.
It may be pointed out that at the time of launch of National Testing Agency, many had protested at the suggestion of conducting NEET examination in online mode. The fact that many students from remote areas also appear for the examination and may not be too comfortable with online mode was raised.
Over the past year, however, students across the country have used online learning effectively. Many coaching centres also shifted to online testing and prep, giving students easy access to learning as country went in lockdown. On the backdrop of the previous year and also the National Education Policy roll out, taking the next step in the direction of online NEET may be just the thing.
Courtesy: TimesNowNews
