Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)’s actor and leader, Vijay, spoke during the special meet-and-greet that he hosted on July 3, Wednesday at Chennai to honour the top students in class ten and twelve examinations held recently.
Following a demand by Tamil Nadu Assembly calling for elimination of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), a controversial medical entrance exams, TVK’s actor-leader Vijay criticized NEET and called for education department and sanitation departments to be moved back from the Concurrent List into State List.
This includes the question of how NEET influences students coming from poor, underprivileged and deprived backgrounds. Vijay has identified three issues in the implementation of NEET examination, he said “Firstly it is against the rights of a State government. The Union Government shifted education from State list to Concurrent list in 1975- this is where I think the problem began”
He also added that the educational policy of ‘one nation, one lesson plan, one examination’ was not consistent with what education was meant for in the first place as “the lesson plans should be redesigned according to the states.”
“I am posing this question not merely because I want to regain state government’s power but I also want our educational system to make students perceive things differently. Diversity is strength,” said Vijay as he wondered how fair it would be for a student who was taught with state board syllabus be tested based on NCERT syllabus. “Think about a child from a village who wants to become a doctor.”
For instance, cancellation of chaotic planned NEET exams have led general public losing faith in them (Vijay). “Such news can be taken as evidence that there is no need for NEET exams.” Ultimately, Vijay suggested that these issues could only be solved by abolishing NEET examinations and he welcomes Tamil Nadu assembly’s resolution. “The feelings of Tamil Nadu must be respected by Union Government and this issue should be addressed immediately.”
While asking that education should go back to State List, Vijay mentioned that an amendment should pass if there are any difficulties so as to create special concurrent list for education and sanitation temporarily until then. “The trouble with Concurrent list is that even though departments enlisted under it are under state governments’ jurisdiction; they are still being controlled by Central Government”. He therefore appealed for greater autonomy for State governments over these departments.
Or rather, if necessary let Union government conduct NEET only for those institutions like PGI and AIIMS under its control. I am just making suggestions, you can see. I know that this issue will not be resolved quickly and even if there is some change, there are many groups who will make sure it doesn’t take place,” said Vijay in conclusion before urging students to consider education as a festival. “Don’t worry about anything. There’s so much the world has to offer us.”
This was on Friday, June 28th when the State Legislature Assembly passed a resolution; as NEET’s widespread malpractices shone spotlight on Tamil Nadu’s sustained protest against the exam. The resolution requested that Union Govt should “immediately approve of T.N.’s NEET exemption bill” and “make necessary amendments to the National Medical Commission Act” in order to abolish NEET at national level.
