Jaya to PM: Allow us to continue with existing system Exempt TN from medical entrance

NT Bureau | Mon, 01 Oct, 2012,01:27 PM

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Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today strongly opposed the Centre's move to conduct All India Common Entrance Test for admission to UG and PG courses in medical colleges and reiterated her demand that Tamilnadu be exempted from it.

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In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a copy of which was released to the media here, she said Tamilnadu should be exempted from this and allowed to continue with its existing system for admission to UG and PG Medical seats. Jayalalithaa expressed surprise and distress over the unilateral decision taken by the Centre without taking into account the protests and in spite of the stay against the Common Entrance Test obtained in the Madras High Court which holds good until it was vacated or until the writ petition was disposed of. Jayalalithaa said the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare had earlier assured that the States would be consulted and their views considered before evolving any policy decision with regard to the conduct of an All India Common Entrance Test. The Tamilnadu government had also given its views, specifically stating that the All India Common Entrance Test would interfere with the rights of the State government in administering the education system and would create problems in implementing the reservation policy followed uniquely in the State. 'Even after repeated requests, by this public notice, it is now clear that the Central Government has not considered our case and has gone ahead with the decision to implement the Common Entrance Test and in the notice has stated that NEET-PG is a mandatory test for gaining entry to MD/MS/PG Diploma courses in all medical colleges under the ambit of post graduate medical education of the Medical Council of India'', she said. Jayalalithaa recalled her earlier letter to the Prime Minister in which she had registered the State's protest on the issue. However, despite the State’s protest the Union government has notified the National Board of Examination (NBE) for conducting the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test for Post Graduate Courses and has gone ahead issuing a public notice for admission to MD and MS Post Graduate Diploma Courses for the 2013 session. The Tamilnadu government had already taken a policy decision to abolish the entrance examination for professional courses. 'This was done after detailed examination by an Expert Committee which found that such Common Entrance Tests put rural students from poor socio economic backgrounds at a disadvantage due to lack of geographical and financial access to requisite training institutions and materials', she pointed out. Jayalalithaa said the State government has reserved 50 per cent of its PG medical seats for doctors who have completed three years of rural service with special weightage for those working in hilly and tribal areas. 'The government has also successfully obtained and enforced bonds from those completing Post Graduate education in Government Medical Colleges to serve the State for a minimum period, which has helped to meet the need for specialist medical manpower', she said. Jayalalithaa said 'it will be legally difficult to implement these policy initiatives if a Common Entrance Test is introduced as we would have to fall in line with the regulations of the National Test, which may not have such enabling provisions'.