Bhubaneswar: BJD Rajya Sabha MP Dilip Tirkey has demanded deferment of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for admission into medical courses this year.
At an all-party meeting called by Union Health minister JP Nadda to resolve the NEET row, Tirkey asked for the introduction of the test for medical courses admissions from next year.
Tirkey told media persons, “Our party’s view is the NEET should be deferred till next year. Otherwise, Odia students passing out from the Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE) will face difficulties. We also request the CBSE, which is conducting the NEET, to introduce the test from next year.”
Meanwhile, Opposition Congress criticised Tirkey’s resistance to the NEET accusing the State government of having a soft corner towards private medical colleges.
Tara Prasad Bahinipati, senior Congress leader, said, “When the state government has been supporting the all-India entrance test for admission into medical courses for years, why do they not want it the same this time? They are having inclination towards private medical colleges."
He added, “People want the NEET for medical courses. With this, students from all categories of the society will get a chance to study medical courses and the standard of medical colleges will improve. Therefore, I would request the BJD, which is opposing NEET, to refrain from doing so.”
Educationists are also of the opinion that the Centre should go ahead with the test as per schedule.
"All the aspirants have appeared first test of the two-phased NEET. For the larger interest of the students no obstacles should be created for the second test. From coming year two tests will not be required."
Notably, last month, the Supreme Court ordered that the NEET should be the only test for admissions into medical courses in the country. It also rejected an appeal by many states for separate entrance exams for medical courses.