Academics say life is more precious than examination

GUWAHATI: Despite widespread protests the Assam Government has decided to go ahead to hold the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) and Joint Entrance Examinations (JEE) Main in the next month as per the directive of the Centre.

The Centre recently announced that the NEET-UG and JEE Main will be conducted in September as scheduled amid a growing chorus for postponing the crucial tests in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. JEE Main is scheduled from September 1-6 and NEET is planned on September 13. Around 8.58 lakh candidates have registered for JEE-Main and 15.97 lakh have registered for NEET. While the NEET is conducted every year to select meritorious students for admission to the medical colleges, the JEE Main is held for admission into the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and other top bracket technical institutes across the country.

Director of Medical Education, Assam Dr Anup Kumar Barman told The Sentinel on Friday that a large number of students of the State have already registered themselves online to sit for the NEET. He said the State will abide by the Centre's directives in case of holding the NEET.

"Around 25,000 students from Assam sit for the NEET every year," Dr Barman said.

An official in the Directorate of Higher Education said over 10,000 students from different parts of the State have already registered themselves to appear for the JEE Main. "Since students are willing to sit for the exam, we will go ahead with the Centre's directives. But we will follow all COVID-19 precautions while conducting the exam," the official said.

The Congress and Left parties have vehemently opposed holding of NEET and JEE in September arguing that the move will endanger lives of thousands of students at a time when the number COVID-19 positive cases have refused to come down.

While the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) has refused to react immediately on the ground that it is holding discussions with parents and students, many academicians have opposed holding the all India entrance examinations.

Dr. Sanjib Kumar Goswami, Head of the Department of English, Kamrup College, Chamata said with lockdown and unlock situation continues there is no clear timeline for restoring normalcy.

"Amidst such a pandemic period, the situation is apparently/ usually not conducive to conduct any examination that requires physical appearance of the examinees. If the NEET is conducted by National Testing Agency(NIA) for lakhs of students it may lead to an unusual further rise in tally of COVID-19 victims. Because, the crowd will be huge and naturally social distancing norms will take a backseat," Dr Goswami said. He hopes that the government will take all pre-cautions even if they go ahead to hold the exams in September.

"Many poor meritorious students from villages and remote areas will be deprived if the NEET and JEE are conducted in September. In this pandemic situation how these students will come to the city to sit for the examinations. Many such students will not be able to register themselves online for the exams due to poor internet connectivity in their areas," Dinesh Baishya, former Principal of B.Borooah College, said.

A senior professor at Cotton University said, "We have lost a few months of the current academic year. Going by the present pandemic scenario it is not sensible to hold exams at this moment. Lives of students are more precious than examinations."

"What is most outrageous is the insensitivity to hold these examinations in the physical mode across the country at a time when the pandemic is surging both in terms of new infections and deaths. If my son gets infected after sitting for the exams, he will be the virus carrier for my entire family. I have not yet decided whether I will allow my son for the exams in September," Sadique Ali of Machkhowa said.

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