The Ukraine-Russia crisis and the untimely death of an Indian Medical student amidst the shellings have raised the debate around the NEET examinations and the number of Medical Seats in the colleges across the country. Debates have risen across the country over how the scarcity of seats affects the MBBS Aspirants in the country who have otherwise secured high marks in the board examinations and are forced to go abroad to pursue medicine.
21-year-old Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagoudar lost his life in Kharkiv due to the Russian shelling when he went to a nearby store to purchase food. Speaking to the media, Naveen's father said that in spite of securing 97 percent marks in the 2nd PUC exams he could not secure a seat for medicine in the state. He added that in order to get a medical seat students are to be given a huge amount of money while they get the same education at a lesser cost abroad.
This has caused a huge wave of wanting to scrap the NEET examinations. Tamil Nadu state government had last year announced to opt-out of the NEET Exams as according to the state government, the exams discriminate against the state board students.
Opinion to scrap the NEET Exams
Residents from Karnataka have termed the NEET Examinations as a direct invasion of the centre into the state functioning adding that education should be brought back to the state list and until then the NEET Exams must be scrapped.
The students opposing the NEET Examinations have presented an opinion that the exams are causing harm to the students from state boards as any centralized scheme cannot work in the country for a longer time.
The students have further added that the NEET exams favour the CBSE students adding that the CBSE must be limited to central government employee children and NEET must be completely scrapped.
Recently Union Minister Prahalad Joshi when speaking to the media earlier had stated that 90 percent of the students who pursue medical education abroad fail in the NEET Exams.
NEET cause of concern
Former Chief Minister of Karnataka - HD Kumaraswamy in a series of tweets expressed his opinion against the NEET Exams calling it a ‘Death statue’ of parents and NEET Aspirants. In his tweets, he stated that NEET is shattering the dreams of the middle-class students and poor students studying medicine and higher education is being reserved for just the haves while denying it for the have nots.
The tragic death of the student in Ukraine is a reflection of the shameless face causing injustice to the talented but economically vulnerable rural students in the name of qualification. Kumaraswamy further added that the student in question had secured 96% in the SSLC Exams and 97% in the PUC exams in spite of which he was denied a medical seat in India. He further added that it is not easy for rural students to secure such a high percentage and despite that medical seats were denied. And after being denied a seat in India he went to Ukraine to realize his dream of becoming a doctor.
Medical Seats in India
Another Twitter user pointed out that Karnataka has 9445 undergraduate medical seats out of the 84,649 seats in the country which is the highest for any state which accounts for more than 11 percent of the medical seats in the country but these seats are unavailable to the meritorious students from the state due to the NEET Exams.
Another user has stated that Karanataka has the most number of medical colleges and seats in the country but the meritorious students in the state are not able to secure the seats here. UP on the other hand with a population of 25 Crore does not have any colleges as Karnataka which has a population of 6.5 Crore which is why the NEET exams were introduced.
Image Courtesy @shiksha.com
Also Read:NEET Notification 2022 Soon: Know Dates, Age Limit, 12th Percentage Required for NEET UG
Rise in Tutorials Questionable
He also pointed at the rapid growth of coaching institutions stating that dreaming of medical education has become an illusion for the middle class and poor students after introducing NEET. tutorials have been taking heavy fees from students as almost 99 percent of the students clearing NEET have enrolled in these tutorials.
The ex-minister also claimed that it is impossible for the Government and Rural students to clear the NEET examinations and since tutorials are aware of this they are expanding their market. The former CM further urged everyone to raise their voice against NEET exams which are meant only for the rich. He also expressed his surprise over the Union Minister Pralhad Joshi’s comments on the students pursuing medical education abroad having failed the NEET Exams here. He further added that it is not the time to compare the cost of medical education in India and abroad.
Kumaraswamy also questioned the union minister over his statement where he said that he wouldn't like to compare the cost of medical education which could lead to a new controversy or debate. He questioned the intention of the statement which has led to a lot of speculations behind tutorials Central government backing and how many more students must die due to the education anarchy caused by NEET.
Medicine in India Vs Abroad
Many of the medical students in the country have pointed out that one of the most important reasons for students looking to go abroad for studies is the cost factor since a five-year MBBS course from a private medical college in the country costs roughly 1 Crore which can be completed in less than half the cost from countries like Ukraine, Russia, Philippines, Kazakhstan or China.
The second reason is the quality of education being offered as compared to the medical colleges in India. One of the students pursuing medicine in the Philippines stated that he is currently pursuing MBBS from the Philippines and despite getting 95% in class 12 the performance in the NEET Exams was very poor. He further added that he is glad he moved because the medical school in the Philippines is better than most private colleges in India.
Some of the students have also alleged that there are no cutoff marks for admissions to deemed medical colleges in India and even if you get 110 out of 720 in the NEET exams you can secure a seat at a leading private deemed university with Rs. 1.25 to 5 CR for 5 years. Countries like Ukraine, Russia or the Philippines on the other hand provide medical education for Rs. 20 to 35 Lakhs for 6 years which is why parents opt to send students abroad.
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