Several States Witness Protests Against NEET 2024: PPFA Demands Fair Probe into Irregularities
In a recent turn of events, several states across the country have become the epicenter of protests against the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) 2024. The protests are being spearheaded by the Patriotic People’s Front Assam (PPFA), a nationalist student forum, which is demanding a fair and thorough probe into the irregularities that have come to light in the NEET 2024 entrance examinations.
At the forefront of the PPFA’s concerns is the issue of toppers securing a perfect score of 720 out of 720 marks. The forum has raised questions about the validity of such high scores, suggesting that they may have been obtained through unfair means or manipulation. Additionally, the PPFA has expressed concern over the occurrence of strange marks in the 200-minute test, which defy the established calculating system of 4 marks for each correct answer and -1 for every incorrect response.
The protests have been further fueled by the National Testing Agency’s (NTA) lack of transparency in disclosing the provision of extra marks in the examination brochures. The NTA, which was established by the Union government in 2017 to conduct entrance and recruitment examinations, has failed to provide any clarification on the criteria used to award grace marks to 1,563 students this year. Despite being described as a “premier, specialist, autonomous, and self-sustained testing organization,” the NTA has not yet clarified whether the grace mark system was employed in NEET-UG 2023 or any other tests.
The PPFA has strongly condemned the irregularities and called for a comprehensive reform of the evaluation system for medical courses. The forum argues that the current multiple-choice question-based evaluation system has been exploited by coaching centers to promote their products and cater to the ambitions of wealthy parents who seek to ensure their children’s admission to prestigious medical institutions. The PPFA questions the significance of NEET in selecting budding doctors without assessing their general attitude, which is considered a crucial quality for practicing physicians.
The protests against NEET 2024 have highlighted the need for greater transparency and accountability in the conduct of entrance examinations. The PPFA’s demands for a fair probe into the irregularities and a reformed evaluation process have resonated with students and parents alike, who are concerned about the integrity of the medical education system. The government and relevant authorities must take swift action to address these concerns and ensure that only deserving and dedicated students are granted the opportunity to pursue medical careers.
Also Read: NTA to review grace marks in NEET-UG after irregularity allegations