Former Madras HC Judge suggests TN government to eliminate NEET for medical admissions, advocates for reliance on 12th marks as the sole criteria

• admin
• June 10, 2024
• Categories: राष्ट्रीय
• Tags: adversity score, DMK, education reform, educational policy, higher education, higher secondary scores, Justice A.K. Rajan, legal procedures, legislative action, M.K. Stalin, Madras High Court, medical admissions, National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test, NEET, NEET abolition, normalization of scores, school education reform, social justice, tamil nadu, TN education

he suggests that the state should use legal and legislative means to make higher secondary examination marks the sole criteria for admission to first-year medical programs.

 

CHENNAI: Retired judge of the Madras High Court, Justice A.K. Rajan, has recommended that the Tamil Nadu government take immediate steps to eliminate the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for medical admissions. He suggests that the state should use legal and legislative means to make higher secondary examination marks the sole criteria for admission to first-year medical programs.

Background and Formation of the Committee

The recommendation comes from a high-level committee led by Justice Rajan, formed after the DMK party came to power in 2021. The committee was tasked with studying the impact of the medical admissions NEET-based admission process on students from diverse backgrounds. The committee’s report, based on extensive data analysis and feedback from students, parents, and the public, highlights NEET’s anti-poor and anti-social justice nature.

Findings and Recommendations of the Committee

The committee’s comprehensive report has been published and shared with various state governments to highlight the drawbacks of NEET medical admissions. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin emphasized the party’s long-standing opposition to NEET and its detrimental effects on students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The report recommends that the Tamil Nadu government take immediate action to eliminate NEET medical admissions as a qualifying criterion for medical admissions. It suggests that the state should leverage legal and legislative procedures to achieve this goal. The committee argues that higher secondary scores should become the sole admission criteria for medical programs, and to ensure fairness, normalization of scores across different education boards should be implemented.

Legal and Legislative Pathways

The committee advises that the state government may need to reinterpret certain constitutional provisions to support its stance. Specifically, it points to the difference between the general provision for university education under Entry 25 List III and the special provision for the regulation of universities under Entry II. Additionally, Entry 32, which deals with the exclusive state subject, should not be overlooked.

To operationalize this, the committee suggests that the state government follow the procedures outlined in Act 3 of 2007, which governs admissions to affiliated colleges under the Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University. If necessary, a new Act similar to Act 3/2007 should be passed, explicitly stating the need to eliminate NEET medical admissions and obtaining the President’s assent to ensure its implementation.

Addressing Socio-Economic Disparities

The report emphasizes the need to address socio-economic and other demographic adversities that affect students’ performance in their higher secondary examinations. The committee proposes the introduction of an “Adversity Score” to re-profile students’ scores based on the intensity of their challenges. This approach aims to level the playing field for students from underprivileged backgrounds.

Reforms in School Education

The committee also calls for a comprehensive reform of school education up to the higher secondary level. The focus should be on fostering learning rather than coaching. Changes in the curriculum, teaching methods, and assessment processes are recommended to enable students to acquire knowledge and higher-order skills rather than relying on rote learning.

Regulation of Deemed Universities

For deemed universities in Tamil Nadu, the committee suggests passing an Act in the Tamil Nadu Assembly to bring them under state regulation, similar to Act 3/2007. This would require obtaining the President’s assent.

Legislative Action and Future Steps

Following the committee’s recommendations, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a bill seeking exemption from NEET. This bill is currently awaiting the President’s assent, with a significant delay attributed to the Tamil Nadu Governor.

Chief Minister Stalin has announced that the Justice A.K. Rajan Committee’s report will be shared in English and other major Indian languages. This move aims to inform the public about the adverse effects of NEET and garner broader support against the test.

Visit Samagra Shiksha News for the latest updates on the Indian Army, defense news, and educational news to stay informed about all the latest developments in these areas. Keep yourself updated and informed about the current affairs and important events related to the Indian Army and the education sector.