TN announces entrance test for NEET coaching

With the imbroglio surrounding TN seeking exemption from NEET continuing unabated, in another twist, the Tamil Nadu government has decided to make it mandatory for medical aspirants to clear an eligibility test for joining free National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) coaching classes at government-run centres.

Students studying in Classes 11 and 12 in government and government-aided schools, who had registered at government NEET coaching classes this academic year, would have to write an eligibility exam that will be conducted in the schools itself.

Similarly, students, who had registered for free JEE coaching, which will be conducted by the School Education Department for the first time from this year onwards, will have to clear an eligibility test.

An internal government circular from the Directorate of School Education, which was not made public, stated that all government and government-aided schools should prepare a list of students who are eligible for free NEET and JEE coaching and send it to the respective District Education Office (DEO).

District schools have also been instructed to conduct eligibility test for students on August 7 and send performance lists to the DEO so candidates can be shortlisted for both NEET and JEE coaching.

The Directorate of School Education has also asked the schools to conduct cycle test for shortlisted candidates every Friday so that they would prepare well in the coaching centre and perform well in the NEET and JEE exams at national level.

A senior official from the School Education Department told DT Next that this move is aimed at filtering students, who come in large numbers to NEET coaching centres. Some of them, do not fit the criteria to continue with medical studies and even lack the basic knowledge, the official added. The official, however, said that the students could also re-appear for the eligibility test, which will be conducted at least twice.

Opposing the government’s move, Tamil Nadu Teachers Association demanded immediate withdrawal of the eligibility test for the medical aspirants. “With students already against NEET, conducting an entrance for free coaching is like rubbing salt on the wounds of the students. A student’s dream to become a doctor will never become reality when he or she fails to clear eligibility test,” association president P K Ilamaran said.