NEET: CM Seeks 2 Years Exemption

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Wednesday requested the Centre to exempt Andhra Pradesh from the proposed National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for the next 2 years.

The CM had already written a letter to Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister For Health & Family Welfare, seeking exemption. He also directed the Special Chief Secretary (Health) G Sudhir to pursue the matter with the Centre.

Kiran Kumar Reddy said that the exemption would facilitate the state to make necessary changes in the curriculum for the Intermediate course from the academic year 2012-13 and to arrange for a revision of text books. It would also give students enough time to prepare for the NEET in 2014, he said.

In his letter, the CM said that the NEET would necessitate certain amendments to the AP Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admissions and Prohibition of Capitation Fee) Act, 1983, AP Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admissions) Order, 1974, and Dr. NTR University Of Health Sciences Act, 1986, under which the State's Common Entrance Test (EAMCET) is held.

Further, the curriculum of the state Board may have to be revised. The text books prescribed will also need to be revised and printed in English and Telugu, and be made available to students in time.

Currently, students in AP follow the state curriculum. EAMCET ranks are calculated based on 25% weightage given to marks secured in the Intermediate examination and 75% to the marks in EAMCET.

"The batch of students joining in the year 2012-13 would complete the Intermediate course by April 2014, and it would be appropriate for them to appear for the NEET in 2014 as they would have studied the Intermediate course as per the revised curriculum," the CM said.

The CM said that at present the question papers for the EAMCET examinations are printed in Telugu and English.

"I understand that in the proposed NEET, the question papers would be in English and Hindi. The vast majority of the students of the state who study Intermediate in Telugu medium would be subjected to a severe handicap if they do not have the benefit of the question paper in Telugu," he said.

Kiran Kumar Reddy said that Andhra Pradesh is not part of the central pool in which 15% of undergraduate seats and 50% of post-graduate seats are earmarked for students of other states. As a result, for a vast majority of the students, the choice is limited to medical colleges in the state.

"A number of meritorious students from the state do qualify for institutions like AIIMS, JIPMER, etc. I understand that these institutions will continue to have their separate entrance tests. Therefore, there may not be much relief in terms of reduction in the number of entrance tests the students of AP have to take," said the Chief Minister in his letter. (INN)