10 May,2016 07:41 AM IST | | Pallavi Smart
Students who appeared for MH-CET and NEET-I can appear for NEET-II in July; however, their earlier scores would be scrapped
In an order issued yesterday, the Supreme Court said states cannot conduct separate medical entrance tests. Admission to MBBS/BDS will be determined only through National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET). This comes as a major setback to the Maharashtra government, which had filed a review petition in the SC requesting to continue CET for two years, for students' convenience.
The update has upset candidates who appeared for Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MH-CET) on May 5 and their parents, who continue to look at ways to reinstate CET for this year. Meanwhile, the state government said it would look at possibilities to further challenge the order. The NEET phase II that will be conducted in July is now the only option for medical admissions, whose syllabus is different from MH-CET.
The SC clarified that candidates who appeared for NEET phase I on May 1 can appear for NEET phase II, which will be conducted on July 24. In this case, the candidate's NEET phase I score will be scrapped. Confirming the order, Dr Praveen Shingare, director of the Directorate of Medical Education and Research, said, "MBBS/BDS admissions will not be conducted through CET."
Years invested
Nayan Verma, a physics teacher at a medical entrance test-coaching institute, said, "This decision has saddened students and their parents. There is no way to console children who have been preparing for CET for almost three years now."
Dr Sagar Mundada, president of MARD, said, "This will definitely strike students in Maharashtra hard, as they have been studying the state board pattern for over two years. Two months of additional time cannot compensate for two years of study."
Edu Min says
In a press conference, Education Minister Vinod Tawde, said, "It is certainly unfair to several students who depended on CET because of the difference in the curriculum. I am going to have another meeting with educators to know if additional coaching can be given to candidates in the remaining two months to cover the curriculum gap. We are also meeting with the CBSE board, which conducts the NEET, to understand whether it is possible to ensure that no question is out of syllabus." "However, it is a respite that those who appeared for NEET phase 1 will be able to appear for phase II. Due to the confusion, several candidates were not satisfied with their performance in the May 1 test. They will get another chance," he added.
