Kolkata, West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu on Saturday demanded scrapping of NEET and demanded that states be allowed to conduct their own entrance exams for medical courses as was the case earlier.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a pre-counselling fair organized by the Association of Professional Academic Institutions, he said the irregularities in NEET have left the future of 23 lakh students in uncertainty.
Basu said his government has already written to the Center in this regard but has not received a reply yet.
He claimed, before the academic year 2016-17, the medical entrance examination was conducted by the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination Board in a transparent manner and there was no controversy over it.
Basu alleged that the Centre's attitude is against the federal structure of the country.
"In a democracy you cannot ignore the opinion of state governments, you cannot ignore states which are run by non-BJP governments," he said.
Basu said the Centre's mismanagement of the UGC-NET exam has jeopardized the careers of lakhs of candidates seeking teaching jobs in higher educational institutions.
On pending student union elections in colleges, he said, "We are positive about it. The process will start after Durga Puja."
While inaugurating the fair, Basu called upon the students to do whatever course they want.
"With the emergence of digital media, the fourth industrial revolution has begun," he said.
“A student can now choose subjects in line with the current trends,” he said.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a pre-counselling fair organized by the Association of Professional Academic Institutions, he said the irregularities in NEET have left the future of 23 lakh students in uncertainty.
Basu said his government has already written to the Center in this regard but has not received a reply yet.
He claimed, before the academic year 2016-17, the medical entrance examination was conducted by the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination Board in a transparent manner and there was no controversy over it.
Basu alleged that the Centre's attitude is against the federal structure of the country.
"In a democracy you cannot ignore the opinion of state governments, you cannot ignore states which are run by non-BJP governments," he said.
Basu said the Centre's mismanagement of the UGC-NET exam has jeopardized the careers of lakhs of candidates seeking teaching jobs in higher educational institutions.
On pending student union elections in colleges, he said, "We are positive about it. The process will start after Durga Puja."
While inaugurating the fair, Basu called upon the students to do whatever course they want.
"With the emergence of digital media, the fourth industrial revolution has begun," he said.
“A student can now choose subjects in line with the current trends,” he said.
