Is really need to cancel JEE- NEET exam?

From twitter to Instagram around on all over the social media platforms there is one of the topic is trending that is cancel the KJEE-NEET exam. On Twitter there is #AntiStudentNarendraModi is trending from last week and around 669K peoples has tweeted this. National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, NEET 2020 and Joint Entrance Examination, JEE Main 2020 are scheduled for September 2020.

Rajya Sabha MP from BJP Subramanian Swamy wrote to PM Narendra Modi to postpone the JEE mains and NEET exams scheduled to be held in September.

In the letter he said, “The required infrastructure of the country is not in place for students to take the NEET and JEE and other competitive examination is. In Bombay for example, there is no public transport available people have to come from adjacent areas almost 20 to 30 km away."

"There is widespread desperation among the youth since this exam is make or break for them and they have to take it fully prepared," he added.

Also Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cancel the NEET and postpone the JEE.

In a letter to Modi, Narayanasamy said the JEE could be held after the Covid-19 pandemic situation is over and the NEET should be cancelled because it is not practically possible due to the psychological impact of Covid-19 on the mental health of the students.

He said several Parents' Organizations and Students' Associations have represented to him saying that NEET be cancelled and JEE be postponed, Narayanasamy said.

Supporting the demand for postponement of NEET and JEE examinations in view of the coronavirus pandemic, seven chief ministers of non-BJP ruled states on Wednesday decided to jointly move the Supreme Court on the issue. Parties like the DMK and AAP also joined the growing chorus against the holding of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) at a time when COVID-19 cases were rising across the country. Batting for the students who are demanding postponement of the exams due to COVID-19, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged the central government to listen to their grievances and find an amicable solution. "NEET-JEE aspirants are worried about their health and future. They have genuine concerns of: fear of COVID-19 infection, transport and lodging during pandemic and flood-mayhem in Assam and Bihar," he said on Twitter. "GOI must listen to all stakeholders and find an acceptable solution," he said.Supporting the demand for postponement of NEET and JEE examinations in view of the coronavirus pandemic, seven chief ministers of non-BJP ruled states on Wednesday decided to jointly move the Supreme Court on the issue. Parties like the DMK and AAP also joined the growing chorus against the holding of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) at a time when COVID-19 cases were rising across the country. Batting for the students who are demanding postponement of the exams due to COVID-19, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged the central government to listen to their grievances and find an amicable solution. "NEET-JEE aspirants are worried about their health and future. They have genuine concerns of: fear of COVID-19 infection, transport and lodging during pandemic and flood-mayhem in Assam and Bihar," he said on Twitter. "GOI must listen to all stakeholders and find an acceptable solution," he said.

Teen environmentalist from Sweden Greta Thunberg has asked for the postponement of JEE, NEET Exam. She took to Twitter to show her support for the postponement of the exam. Thunberg, reportedly, has returned to school.

"Deeply unfair" is how Thunberg described the move for the exam in the middle of the global pandemic.

 I do not think that Greta Thunberg should speak anything about the national examination of India. Whatever Indian government will do, it will do by its consciously. It will be better if Greta Thunberg raise her voice on the safety of her country's elders. We all know how Sweden failed to protect their elderly. That's really serious and a failure for society.

The Ministry of Education has rightfully decided not to postpone the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE)-Main and National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET). Recently, in a press statement, the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts these exams, said: “the examination is going to be held with due precaution and it is not going to be postponed.”The NTA, which functions under the Ministry of Education, also said that 99.07% of JEE (Main )aspirants will be offered their preferred choice of exam centers, while the same will be applied to 99.87% of NEET candidates.The Ministry of Education has rightfully decided not to postpone the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE)-Main and National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET). Recently, in a press statement, the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts these exams, said: “the examination is going to be held with due precaution and it is not going to be postponed.”The NTA, which functions under the Ministry of Education, also said that 99.07% of JEE (Main )aspirants will be offered their preferred choice of exam centers, while the same will be applied to 99.87% of NEET candidates.

Are students justified in asking for a postponement of the exams due in September? The NTA in its favour, quoted the judgment of the Supreme Court, which very recently, dismissed a plea seeking postponement of JEE (Main) and NEET. 

“We find that there is absolutely no justification in the prayer made for postponement of the examination in question relating to NEET UG-2020 as well as JEE (Main) April 2020. In our opinion, though there is a pandemic situation, ultimately life has to go and the career of the students cannot be put on peril for long and a full academic year cannot be wasted,” said the Supreme Court.

The JEE-NEET exams, these are the two national-level entrance exams for professional courses. Around 16 lakh students have registered for NEET-UG this year, while close to 9.3 lakh students had registered for JEE-Mains (Paper I) that was conducted in January 2020. An equal number of students were expected to appear for the second phase of the exam, which was scheduled for April-May this year but was postponed twice due to the lockdown, arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Several students and parents around the country have shared their concerns over conducting exams as Covid-19 cases are on a rise. However, an equal number of parents of students are also hoping that the exams are held as per the schedule so that the delay in the postponement of exams comes to an end and students do not suffer the loss of a valuable academic year.

Also, medical admissions are time-bound and therefore, it makes no sense to further delay NEET, which will eventually delay the overall admission process as well. Leaving an entire batch of medical seats vacant will be unfair because next year, the in-take capacity of medical institutes will remain the same but the applicants will double in number, which will lead to utter chaos. Hence, postponement is simply not desirable.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra, on the said matter said, “life has to go on”, despite the outbreak of the viral disease and that the court cannot put the career of students in jeopardy by interfering with the decision of the NTA. 

However, due to the Wuhan virus pandemic and related problems, the Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB) has revised its eligibility criteria for admission for the academic session 2020-21. As per the new eligibility criteria for admission, JEE (Main) qualified candidates need to obtain just pass certificate in Class 12, irrespective of any percentage. 

Union Education Minister Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal also assured that the Joint Admission Board (JAB) has decided that the candidates who will clear the JEE (Advanced), will be eligible for admission to IITs irrespective of their Class 12 marks. The decision has been taken due to the partial cancellation of Class 12 board exams by several boards, in light of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The government and examination authorities are doing what needs to be done but other stakeholders from civil society need to do their bit too. Postponement is certainly not the solution.True, public transportation facilities throughout the country are either on hold or have been operating thinly and rightfully so, given the state of complete or partial lockdown in containment and non-containment zones.However, buses have been plying regularly, if not trains. Private transport is plying freely too. The number of exam centers is far higher than required and the Modi government has ensured that students or parents accompanying them, do not have to travel for long distances, for the exams.

JEE Main is an online exam. It is quite easy and convenient to increase the number of exam centers, as the infrastructure for the online conduct of exams is very robust in the country. Which country can boast of holding online exams for almost a million people year after year and, very successfully at that?

So the argument that hosting lakhs of people for the JEE (Main), will be tricky, is a flimsy argument with no credibility.

Some have argued that the state of Bihar had only 22 centers for JEE Main, conducted earlier this year. So what? Twenty-two large, sprawlingly spacious centers for barely over a lakh students, were good enough, then. In any case, NTA has now increased the number of centers manifold, countrywide, due to the pandemic. Some others have argued that given the floods in Bihar, delaying exams, is the right thing to do. Well, floods in Bihar are an annual occurrence.

Despite the floods last year, of the 1.61 lakh students who appeared for the JEE, from Bihar, over 11,000 students cracked the exam. Again, Bihar has a high COVID-19 recovery rate of 84%. Nationally too, the recovery rate is over 75% and the fatality rate is less than 2%.

Some profess that any type of standard operating procedure (SOP) put forth, will look good and convincing on paper only but on the ground, such protocols are highly unrealistic. Well, the experience of the last few months has shown that, barring stray incidents, Indians have actually followed SOPs wonderfully well by deciding to forego large weddings or religious gatherings.Even at funerals and cremations, people have taken necessary precautions and restricted large crowds from gathering, to mourn the demise of their near and dear ones.

That is precisely the reason, India's recovery rate which was barely over 40% in April, is inching towards 80%, in less than 6 months!

There may be students who would've tested positive just days before the exam. In such a scenario, it is safe to assume, they would be wise enough to not risk attempting the exam with others. They can always attempt in the following year. At the same time, the careers of lakhs of other students can surely not be compromised, for a handful of few?

True, some students will definitely be in containment zones and as per the containment zone guidelines, strict lockdown measures have to be implemented in those areas, regardless of the persons concerned. But why should any sane minded person assume that administrative authorities do not have the wherewithal or competence to host exams, despite following strict protocol? 

Yes, it may cause temporary inconvenience in organising and managing these exams but these are tough times and they call for tough measures. Canceling or perpetually delaying exams is certainly not the answer! There are many students with pre-existing ailments like asthma. How are they supposed to wear masks for such long hours? Additionally, students with ailments like diabetes are also exposed to a far greater risk of life. How can these be tackled, ask a few. The response is simple--such students will have to take a judicious call of taking these exams next year. But their pre-existing condition cannot be a reason to penalize lakhs of other aspirants, going by the principle of the "greatest good of the greatest number", ruthless, as it may seem.

Is the government ready to take responsibility for mishaps and take complete responsibility for the medical care of not only students but others they pose a risk to? Well, the government is not the only stakeholder in this matter. The aspirants, their parents and guardians, exam center personnel, administrative officials of NTA, respective States and the Centre--all have a role to play. It is immature and puerile to only hold the Modi government responsible--aspirants and their guardians have to be cognizant of their responsibilities, too.

While one section is protesting against the exams, over 100 academicians have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi supporting the government’s decision, "Youths and students are the future of the nation but in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, clouds of uncertainty have gathered over their careers too. There are lot of apprehensions about admission and classes which need to be resolved at the earliest," they said in their letter. Like every year, this year too millions of students have passed their Class 12 exams and are now waiting at home to eagerly take the next step, the letter said. "The government has announced the dates for JEE-Mains and NEET any further delay in conducting the exams will result in waste of precious year for students. The dreams and future of our youth and students cannot be compromised at any cost. However, some are trying to play with the future of our students simply to propel their own political agenda and oppose the government," it said.

The signatories include academicians from the Delhi University, IGNOU, Lucknow University, JNU, BHU, IIT Delhi and Indian academicians from foreign universities such as University of London, University of California, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Ben Gurion University, Israel, among others. "We strongly believe that the central government will successfully conduct the JEE and NEET exams taking full precautions to ensure that the future of students is taken care of and the academic calendar for 2020-21 is rolled out," it added.

Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal “Nishank” has defended the decision of the government to conduct NEET & JEE in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, saying a silent majority of students wants the exams to be held. As opposition parties join countrywide protests by students, the minister slammed the “politicisation of education” and asked all to abide by the orders of the Supreme Court. In an interview, “Nishank” said a zero academic year will cause tremendous loss to the students and he had received several mails from candidates and their parents asking for the exams to be held as per the schedule. He added that there was no certainty about when the pandemic would end and hence, “the solution therefore is to move on with precautions”.

If someone from JEE (Main) becomes COVID-19 positive (after giving the exam) then how will that student give NDA, NEET, JEE ( Advanced), BITSAT, NEST, and other entrance exams? He or she can't give his or her 100%, is another absolutely lame and shallow argument propounded by a few. Well, there is always another year, for those who miss out on giving these exams in 2020. But for these few, to expect everybody else to forego a full academic year is devoid of any logic.

To cut to the chase, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly been at the forefront, urging, motivating and coaxing students to do their best, without giving in, to any form of stress or pressure, much like the mantra he adheres to, making him excel at what he does. "For those youngsters who did not get the desired result in the Civil Services Examination, 2019, I would like to tell them- life is full of several opportunities. Each and every one of you is hardworking and diligent. Best wishes for all your future endeavours,” Modi posted in a tweet on August 4, 2020, after the UPSC results were declared, in which 829 candidates finally made the cut, from over 7 lakh aspirants who sat for these exams in 2019.

Hence, to assume that the BJP-led Modi government has any ulterior agenda in wanting to push ahead with the JEE-NEET exams is pure hogwash coming from idle minds. The government simply wants to ensure that a large majority of the students who are physically and mentally fit and ready to take the exams, are not made sacrificial lambs and asked to forego a valuable academic year, for the sake of a small, misguided bunch, that has spent it's time in futile "Twitter Activism", rather than reading up for the impending exams.