The opinions were shared by the participants in the consultation on NEET-UG reforms organised by the Centre for Educational and Social Studies (CESS) on Thursday at the Institute of Social and Economic Change (ISEC) in Bengaluru.
CESS will consolidate the suggestions and submit it as recommendations to the high-powered task force looking into National Testing Agency (NTA) reforms, headed by Nandan Nilekani. September 13 is the last date for submission of suggestions.
S. Somanath, former chairman, ISRO, and member of the task force, said that about 23 lakh students write the NEET exam every year, and it is a big challenge for the NTA to arrange the necessary logistics. But about 15 lakh students write the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). “However, it is a computer-based exam and there are multiple attempts. Therefore, we need to think about conducting the NEET exam in multiple attempts as well,” he said.
“Experts from Indian Institute of Technologies (ITIs) prepare the question papers for the JEE. However, there is no proper information about who prepares the NEET question papers. There is a need for expert professors and subject experts to prepare the question papers. In addition, there is a need to use AI to prepare the question papers,” he added.
M.K. Ramesh, president of Medical Assessment and Rating Board at the National Medical Commission, stressed the need to consider weightage of II PU score for awarding NEET rank.
He also said NEET should be conducted within a week after the board exams. “It will reduce the stress on students. Instead of a single centralised exam, the multiple exam system is better. In the model of Union Public Service Commission, NEET should have limited attempts,” he added.
Founder of Narayana Health Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, who joined through videoconference, said: “Actions like impersonation have been reported in the NEET exam. It is necessary to effectively prevent acts this using technology, including biometric attendance.”
Bhagawan B.C., Vice-Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, elaborated on how digital transmission of question papers can be done to avoid intervention and logistic risks.
A student, who attended the meeting, emphasised the need to bring standardisation in the NEET question paper setting. “For example, if the physics question paper is tough, then biology should be easy. If the maths question paper is moderate, then chemistry would be tough. It is necessary to adopt a specific standard while preparing the question papers. This will ensure that there is no injustice,” the student said.
A psychiatrist from NIMHANS said that it is common for parents to put pressure on their children for the NEET exam. “It is not right to impose the burden of their expectations on the children without knowing their potential and ability,” he told.
