Hyderabad|India|November'2011: The Chief Minister Mr N Kiran
Kumar Reddy requested the Government of India to exempt Andhra Pradesh
from the proposed National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for the
next two years. The Chief Minister wrote a letter to Union Minister for
Health and Family Welfare, Sri Ghulam Nabi Azad on 31st October in this
regard and already directed the Special Chief Secretary, Health, Sri G
Sudhir to pursue the matter with the Government of India and get the
exemption. Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy said the exemption would facilitate the
State to make the necessary changes in the curriculum for Intermediate
Course from the Academic Year 2012-13 and arrange revision of the text
books and also give sufficient time for the students to prepare properly
for the NEET in 2014.
Following is the full text of the Chief Minister's letter:
"This is regarding holding a single entrance test for the students
aspiring to join MBBS and Post Graduate Courses in the country. Government
of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP) had agreed for holding of the National
Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) in its D.O. Lr.No.18525/E1/2010-1, dt.
29.10.2010 to Government of India (GoI). However, there are three
important concerns which have to be addressed in the interest of the
students of our State to facilitate a smooth transition to the single
examination system.
Firstly, introduction of NEET would involve certain amendments to the A.P.
Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admissions and Prohibition of
Capitation Fee) Act, 1983, A.P. 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.
Secondly, the curriculum of the State Board may have to be revised as
necessary after the curriculum for the test is finally notified by the GoI.
The text books prescribed will also need to be got revised and printed in
English and Telugu and made available to the students in time from the
next academic year, i.e. by July, 2012. Presently, the students are
following the State curriculum. EAMCET ranking is are based on 25%
weightage to the marks secured in Intermediate examination and 75%
weightage to the marks in EAMCET. This makes the students to concentrate
on Intermediate course apart from preparation for entrance test.. 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 Intermediate Course
as per revised curriculum.
Thirdly, 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.
It is not out of place to mention here that our State is not participating
in the Central pool in which 15% of Undergraduate seats and 50% of Post
Graduate seats are earmarked for students of the other States. As a
result, for a vast majority of the students the choice is limited to
Medical Colleges in the State only. A number of meritorious students from
the state do qualify for the 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 number of entrance tests the students of AP have to take.
Considering all these factors which have a close bearing on the students
and their preparations for and performance in the examinations, I feel
that it would be appropriate for the GoI to exempt the State of Andhra
Pradesh from the proposed NEET for the next two years. This would
facilitate the State to make necessary changes in the curriculum for
Intermediate Course from the academic year 2012-2013, arrange revision of
the text books and also give sufficient time for the students to prepare
properly for the NEET in 2014".
-Nov
2011
