Earlier National Testing Agency (NTA) announced that National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET UG) 2019 will be conduct in online mode twice a year. First exam of NEET 2019 will be held from February 01 to 17 and the second paper will be conducted from May 12 to 26, 2019. All was set until MHRD announced that NEET should not be held twice. Now, the candidates are awaiting final decision on whether NEET should be held twice or not and how substantial is it to conduct it online.
If NEET 2019 is conducted online then rural student will suffer the most. Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) is concerned on how they will consider the problems of rural students and class 12th students if NEET is held online.
Problems to be faced by rural students
In case the NEET takes place in online mode, the major problem will be faced by aspirants in rural areas. The trouble lies in the lack of resources available to these students. In a pen and paper-based test, they can practice from the offline sources like books, test papers etc. In addition to that, they don’t have to visit far off places to take mock tests for the exam. Whereas in the computer-based test, they need proper infrastructure and logistics.
Being living in areas where electricity is a major problem how can students access and afford the computer facilities. To solve problem MHRD has released the statement that the exam conducting body will assist the rural students in every possible way. The ministry proposed to open online test centers in the labs of Schools/ Engineering colleges in nearby areas. Even if the solution is viable, it will lead to the extra burden of visiting the centers and wait for their turn to use the facility.
The other problem arises is that lack of computer usage knowledge among the rural students. There are many students who still haven’t used computers in their lifetime. So, such students have to take classes to learn how to attempt test in online mode.
What other Students saying
Regarding this problem, there has been much discussion on the social media platform. Many people are supporting the online examination as the fair mean to conduct the exam. Many suggested that NEET continue in offline mode for the underdeveloped students.
It is also ben requested to hold the decision for NEET online for one year. Such that students get adapted till then and do not have to change the exam strategy with the unpredictability regarding the mode of examination.
Let’s wait for the final decision to come. We expect that decision favors all the students and does not lead to any injustice to the rural students.
NEET 2019
NEET until 2018 was conducted by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The exam takes place for admission all over India to fill the medical and dental seats. Candidates appearing for NEET must have Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English in the 12th standard. The paper has multiple choice questions from Biology, Chemistry, and Physics with 90, 45, 45 questions respectively.
