Vani Jha
According to D Ramakrishna Rao, there wouldn’t be any instances of paper leaks or student reliance on coaching centres if the NTA made modifications to the current examination design.
In the context of the NEET-UG paper leak controversy, the RSS-affiliated Vidya Bharti advocated on Thursday for modifications to the current competitive exam “pattern” to stop similar instances from happening again and to eliminate applicants’ reliance on coaching centres.
Also Read: DU Academic Calendar 2024-25: Detailed Overview for Postgraduate and Law Programmes
At this press conference, Vidya Bharti Akhil Bhartiya answered questions. The chairperson of Shiksha Sansthan, D Ramakrishna Rao, voiced “concern” with the purported leak of NEET-UG papers and suggested that the present examination system be modified to evaluate applicants’ “competence, aptitude, attitude, and Intelligence Quotient,” rather than only their recollection of their appearances.
Vidya Bharti Press Conference
“These kinds of exams should be administered with reforms. Summarily, we should model our examination pattern after those of institutes like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). “The IITs’ examination system is infallible,” he said to reporters. The National Testing Agency (NTA) administers the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) to applicants for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other relevant programs in public and private universities. Rao advocated for the implementation of an open-book examination approach for competitive exams intended to assess students’ “competence, aptitude, attitude, and Intelligence Quotient” in addition to suggesting improvements to the evaluation procedures.
“Candidates may be provided with question banks, say 2,000 questions, in advance to enable them to understand the scope of their exams so that they can prepare well for it on their own,” he explained. According to him, there wouldn’t be any instances of paper leaks or student reliance on coaching facilities if the NTA made modifications to the current exam pattern. To showcase the accomplishments of the organization’s more than 12,000 schools across the nation, as well as its contributions to the area of education, Rao was speaking at the Vidya Bharti Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Sansthan’s annual press conference.
NEET UG 2024: Grace causes controversy
Unprecedented in the NTA’s history, 67 students achieved a perfect score of 720 on the NEET-UG, 2024; six of these students came from a Haryana center, which raised questions about possible violations. Grace marks are said to have played a part in 67 students sharing the top spot. Later, after the NTA released the updated results on July 1, the number of contenders sharing the top place dropped to 61.
An investigation into the purported anomalies in NEET-UG, 2024 is presently being carried out by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). When asked if Vidya Bharti operated in the violent state of Manipur, Rao responded that his organization organized to offer free education to pupils residing in several relief camps and was also managing 250 students’.
“We have started the ‘School on Wheels’ initiative to fulfil the students’ educational needs there (Manipur).” According to him, pupils from Manipur are also receiving an education from Vidya Bharti by being transferred to its institutions located in other states. The professors and volunteers here are working very hard to meet the needs of the pupils (in Manipur). They have difficult working conditions. That is a delicate scenario. Getting things back on track will take time.
However, we will keep up our efforts,” he declared. Asserting to reporters’ queries, Rao stated that while Vidya Bharti’s petition to launch two more Sainik Schools was “under process,” the Center has accepted the organization’s plan to operate eight Sainik Schools across several states, including Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.
Conclusion
The recent call by Vidya Bharti for reforms in the NEET-UG exam pattern highlights the urgent need to address concerns over paper leaks and the over-reliance on coaching centres. By advocating for an exam design that assesses a broader range of student capabilities, including competence, aptitude, attitude, and intelligence quotient, Vidya Bharti aims to create a more fair and effective evaluation system.
The proposed changes, such as the open-book examination approach and providing question banks in advance, are intended to reduce malpractice and encourage self-reliant preparation. As investigations continue into the anomalies of NEET-UG 2024, these suggestions could pave the way for a more robust and secure testing environment. The commitment of organizations like Vidya Bharti to improving educational standards and addressing systemic issues is crucial for the future of competitive exams in India.