New Delhi: The National Testing Agency (NTA) Thursday said it wasn’t releasing admit cards for the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET) on the scheduled date of 27 March but gave no indication of whether the exams, slated for 3 May, would be rescheduled.
The uncertainty has left many aspirants anxious and worried.
Many students have been preparing for NEET for the past two to three years, with some even taking a break after school. A number of them have been stuck at coaching hubs, such as Kota in Rajasthan, which prepare students for both the medical and engineering entrance exams.
Those who have returned home from the coaching hubs, due to the 21-day lockdown, say they are stuck without study material. All of them now want clarity on the exam date.
“All aspirants are worried because the NTA is not making any announcement. If they want to postpone NEET, they should just tell us and we will be mentally ready,” said Sucheta Mukherjee, from West Bengal, who will attempt NEET for the third this time this year. She has spent the last two years just preparing for the exam.
“We are already having issues coping up with the stress during a pandemic and on top of that, this uncertainty about our future,” she added. “Just like me, there are many students who have dropped two to three years to prepare for NEET. They deserve to know what’s in store for them.”
“I want NTA to postpone the exam because it is not possible for us to concentrate on studies and preparation this time. I hope they take a decision keeping in mind, the health and safety of over 15 lakh students,” said Samira Sheikh, a NEET aspirant from Ranchi.
“It is more difficult to be quarantined, stay away from family and study. We have literally been locked up in rooms for almost a year to study but this time is a little different,” said Animesh Sharma, who studies in Kota. “My parents back home in Delhi are worried about me and keep checking up on me. On top of that, my friends and I have to make sure that we stay safe in our hostels. It’s a difficult time for all of us.”
NEET scores are used to secure admission in both government and private medical colleges across the country. Foreign universities also take into account NEET scores for admissions. The results are usually out in June, after which admissions to the colleges begin. However, this year there is also no clarity on when the new session will begin.
Also read: ‘Will probably die of hunger first’ — what 21-day lockdown means for labourers without work
Coaching centres resort to virtual classes
Coaching centres are now resorting to virtual means to connect with students due to the lockdown. Teachers have also been asked to remain in constant touch with the students to offer them emotional support and study-related guidance.
“We are trying to offer all the help to students through online classes. Their syllabus was already over but now they are completing their revision through online classes,” said Vinod Sharma, who works for Allen Institute in Kota. “Teachers are also helping them by being in touch over phone and video calls. We are asking students not to panic and unnecessarily stress about the date; we are telling them to be prepared for a 3 May test.”
R.K. Verma from Resonance Coaching Centre in Kota said, “We are asking students not to panic and keep in mind the 3 May test date and prepare accordingly. The institute is extending all the support it can to make sure students are safe and stress-free.”
But some students who returned home for holidays before the lockdown, are now without study material. “I had come home to celebrate Holi with my family and I am stuck here without my books and notes that are there in my hostel. Also the environment at home is not suitable to concentrate,” said Vindesh Kumar, a NEET aspirant from Delhi studying at Kota.
Other aspirants say that the syllabus hasn’t been completed and are worried they wont be able to finish online. “My coaching class has been closed since 14 March. We had to complete our chemistry syllabus but that is incomplete now. Our practice papers and revision classes have also been delayed. It’s a request to NTA to postpone the exam or atleast make some announcement,” said Ananya Dua, a NEET aspirant from MP in Kota.
Anish Singh, an aspirant from Durgapur in West Bengal, said, “I had come back home from Kota and joined a coaching centre here but everything is now closed. The institute is making us take online tests but online and offline tests are very different. If the exam is not postponed, how will we complete the syllabus… The situation is very grim.”
Also read: Not enough grains to manufacture atta, maida, sooji as lockdown hits supply chain
hi sir/mam……. I am also a NEET Aspirant In lockdown every person in my family are staying in two rooms…… there are much difficulties to read and plz do convenient for students……. ?
I dont understand the board undertaking the task of selecting future doctors of india is not approachable. Even thru available mail addresses if we ask for information they do not respond.
Being a Kashmiri we have trained ourselves how to manage our study in such lockdowns conditions
My self
Mr.ATEEB AHEMAD students of Shaheen academy preparation for NEET first time but I am too narous me and all the students who are preparing before two aur three year …I will pry for all students they are related with all faculty .and also pry for Corona affected patients insha’Allah early recover their health and also our intrance
Regard
Ateeb Ahmad Shakeel ahmad
Student of Shaheen academy
Malegaon
I am a medical Aspirant from Kota. Kota is a hub for lakhs of engineering nd NEET aspirants. But as of now the condition of students living in Kota is really miserable. Due to the corona phobia our mess nd Hostel are being closed. Our hostel nd PG owners are pressuring us to empty the rooms. We have nowhere to go. Students staying here are unable to get proper food on time. Some mess have even cancelled their breakfast. Some only give rice nd dal without any sabzi saying that vegetable markets are closed. We can’t go out to buy any thing we need. I’m sure all the students staying in hostels away from parents must be facing a lot of difficulties nd must be depressed. Regarding studies we have barely been able to focus on it since the first day of lockdown. We are really living in bad conditions nd are depressed. I hope the Government will be able to understand the problems faced the these lakhs of students here in Kota as well as anywhere else nd take some proper decision to stop these depressed students from taking wrong steps especially when they are in Kota.
Yes, nta please postponed the exam bcz we have a gap to intermediate exam after as earlier they have been locked out house is not suitable environment to study such a competitive exams like NEET so please requesting u to post pone the exam to June…..
Sir we want time to study … Plz postponed the neet exam
Me, a neet aspirant from kasmir. I am studying in Allen Carrier Instt. Kota. I’m here from about a year .
A no. of students are stuck here waiting for any conform news of exam postphonement . I apeal to the govt authorities to take some wise and quick action and also provide students any means of transport to reach there respective states.
Plz postpone as we are not able to prepare for the examination as all the coaching classes have been shut down due to 21 days lockdown
It has been postponed…please check the website
The situation is very hard.Please postpone NEET.
Yeah
This situation is very critical our .all exam are deferment but after sometime it has been rescheduled so I think it’s a not time of afraid it’s a time of support our country and we should lock in our home and we do our best for NEET preparation.
All the best my dear friends
Dont postpone