As National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for undergraduate and postgraduate medical and dental courses becomes a reality in Tamil Nadu, some aspirants studying in state government syllabus are giving up hope and contemplating other options.

The Centre added 23 new cities for conducting NEET this year, which includes three in Tamil Nadu. The state was exempted from NEET last year.

The announcement has come as a shock to the already stressed Class 12 medicine-aspirants. Nagaraj S, a Class 12 student, shifted from CBSE syllabus to the TN State board two years ago hoping for better chance of getting an MBBS seat.

But with NEET becoming mandatory, he feels his chances are slim.

While his family is able to pay for coaching classes, he feels it is inadequate as there is not much time to prepare. Nagaraj is looking at other options.

There are many who feel the same way, according to Vasanthi N, a higher secondary school Physics teacher. “Every year, we have a few students who want to join medicine. But, this year, even our best students are looking at other options such as accountancy as they feel it is impossible to pass NEET.”

The uproar over NEET in Tamil Nadu is not without reason. Tamil Nadu government eliminated common entrance exam in 2007 and, since then, students are admitted based on their Class 12 scores.

Tamil Nadu Uniform System of Education was implemented in all schools that follow the state syllabus in 2009.

Saroja Thomas, another government school teacher, said that though this has encouraged many rural students to aspire high, it brought down the quality of education. “This only has made these competitive exams tougher,” she added.

While some are able to afford coaching centres that have mushroomed in the state since NEET came into the picture, not many can afford them as they charge as much as ₹1 lakh.

Sridhar M, principal of a government school, said a few government schools like his are planning to coach students from Class 11 itself.

“There is no doubt that NEET will improve quality of medical students overall, but without changing the TN syllabus, it will put an end to the dream of many students,” he said.

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