Guwahati: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday announced that the NEET entrance exams in Assam this year will be conducted exclusively in govt schools. Sarma said Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan has accorded approval to his (Sarma’s) request.
Sarma added that correspondence has also been initiated by state govt with the Centre in this regard. NEET is scheduled for May 4.
Sarma had expressed reservations regarding the conduct of the crucial medical examination in private educational establishments, fearing potential irregularities and compromise of examination integrity.
Sarma recently met Dharmendra Pradhan in Bhubaneshwar. He was visiting to offer condolences following the demise of Pradhan’s father, Devendra Pradhan.
“I asked Dharmendra Pradhan ji whether we could conduct the NEET examination in govt schools under rigorous surveillance and security. He accepted my proposal, agreeing to implement changes for conducting NEET exclusively in govt schools of Assam. We have already communicated with the Union govt, and the NEET examination centres for May shall be established solely in Assam’s govt schools,” Sarma elaborated during a Facebook live session on Monday evening.
He specified that district commissioners and SPs would implement stringent surveillance measures in their respective districts to ensure fairness for meritorious students.
Sarma had earlier expressed apprehension regarding NEET’s conduct, noting its execution in private schools with minimal coordination with state govt. He highlighted the state govt’s inability to implement crucial measures ensuring NEET examination integrity, particularly when compared to the Assam Direct Recruitment Examination.
“Comprehensive verification including fraudulent candidates, Aadhaar, biometric authentication shall be implemented. While not discrediting previous NEET selections, we aim to ensure enhanced scrutiny this year,” Sarma emphasised.
NEET traditionally operates in private schools and colleges, though National Testing Agency sources confirm its occasional administration in govt institutions when feasible.
Earlier this month, the Assam cabinet resolved to petition the Centre for ensuring fair and transparent NEET conduct by allocating centres exclusively in govt-operated schools.
Sarma observed that numerous candidates securing admission to state’s medical colleges through NEET demonstrated merit below expectations. “Several professors have reported that while students secure high marks, their practical and academic proficiency remains limited. Despite fierce competition, their medical college performance proves inadequate,” Sarma had said.
Earlier, he had revealed that Assam Police’s special branch had conducted investigations spanning over a year, discovering that most NEET examination centres in Assam operate from private institutions in peripheral areas like Hojai and Hailakandi, rather than established govt schools in Guwahati, including Cotton Collegiate Higher Secondary School and Kamrup Academy.
The state cabinet authorised the chief secretary to establish communication with the National Testing Agency director regarding these cabinet decisions.
