NEET is creating an atmosphere of fear and anxiety in medical education, says Veerapandian

Communist Party of India State secretary M. Veerapandian made a strong case for abolishing the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), arguing that it was not only an assault on social justice, but had also created an atmosphere of fear and anxiety among students aspiring to pursue medical education.

He said education — both school and higher education — was the responsibility of a welfare state and should not be left in the hands of private institutions. “Education is not a privilege or a concession; it is a right. The government must take responsibility for providing education, just as China, a country with a population comparable to India’s, provides education to its citizens,” Mr. Veerapandian said.

As Balan Illam, the CPI headquarters, has emerged as a centre for protests against NEET, Mr. Veerapandian said the party had permitted students to stage demonstrations following requests from the All India Students’ Federation (AISF) and students affiliated with the Cockroach Janta Party. “We also took into account the convenience of our students staying at Balan Illam and neighbours on the road. We were convinced that peaceful demonstrations would not cause any disruption,” he said.

‘Complete exemption’

With reference to the celebration following the resignation of the Union Higher Education Minister, Mr. Veerapandian said that, as far as Tamil Nadu was concerned, the demand was for complete exemption from the examination.

“If other States wish to continue with NEET, we have no objection. The students’ demand for the Minister’s resignation over the alleged question paper leak is also justified. The government should hold talks with them. Suppressing peaceful protests through police action is an assault on democratic values and the Gandhian tradition of peaceful protest,” he said.

Reiterating that NEET was not an appropriate method for admitting students to medical colleges, Mr. Veerapandian recalled the views of the late neurologist B. Ramamurthi, who had argued that medical education did not depend solely on rote learning or examination scores.

Mr. Veerapandian said government-run institutions such as Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital and Stanley Medical College Hospital could match any world-class hospital. He pointed out that these institutions had treated and saved more than one lakh patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have doctors of exceptional talent and skill who may not have entered medical colleges through NEET. We need a serious debate on the examination. On the one hand, it is an assault on social justice; on the other, it creates an atmosphere of fear and anxiety among students aspiring to study medicine,” he said.

Referring to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s opposition to NEET, Mr. Veerapandian said the Chief Minister should remain steadfast in his stand. “His recent statement suggests that he is firm in his opposition,” he added.

He also urged the government to earmark designated venues where public protests could be held in the State in future. “Peaceful protests strengthen democracy; they are not directed against governments, The government should facilitate such democratic expression rather than suppress it.” he said.