Like jallikattu, we need NEET law for equitable education

This is the reason for carving out exceptions in order to provide for an equitable society. Education is in the concurrent list of the Constitution. Therefore, both the Central government and the State government can pass laws governing education. This has led to both the State and Central syllabus schools functioning all over the country. Inherently, there are differences in the standard and method of education imparted in these institutions. 

As far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, our public schools which are the neighbourhood schools, impart education in Tamil. They adopt state syllabus and follow the SSSLC and Plus Two pattern with two language formula, Tamil being the first language and English as the second language. Whereas the Central syllabus schools have three language formula and their syllabus is also different. Teaching methodology and evaluation are at different scales. Though both streams and also that of Matriculation, Anglo-Indian School Leaving Certificate and other such streams generally follow the 10 + 2 pattern, they have different syllabus. The students of each stream are exposed to different levels of education with no common denominator. 

After passing Plus Two, the students wanting to do medicine like MBBS and BDS etc. seek admission in medical colleges, either state run or privately managed. In Tamil Nadu till 2006 admissions to professional colleges such as medical colleges were based on the marks obtained in Plus Two, together with marks secured in the entrance test. Students who study in Tamil medium, who are first generation learners, especially from rural / economically / socially backward backgrounds could hardly secure admission in professional colleges competing with the city bred, English educated with the fortune of going to private coaching classes spending huge sums. In order to avoid such undue advantage for the privileged few and to give opportunity for the disadvantaged many the State government passed The Tamil Nadu Regulation of Admission in Professional Courses Act, 2006 abolishing the entrance exams and admitting students based on their plus two marks in his or her community. This gave rise to better chances for the disadvantaged section of students to secure medical education. 

Due to commercialisation of medical education and to bring about uniform and transparent admission process National Eligibility- cum-Entrance Test (NEET) was introduced by the Central government in 2010. This was stayed by the Supreme Court and the stay vacated in 2016. With NEET in place, a national competitive exam comes to play in place of the professional entrance test that was done away by the state government. Now through an ordinance, NEET was given a go-by by our state government.

Admissions for next academic year will be by NEET if the State government does not pass necessary legislation curbing NEET for medical college entrance within Tamil Nadu. Like jallikattu, we need a special law. 

Commercialisation of education in general and professional colleges in particular has made higher education unaffordable to commoners. It is high time uniform quality education is made available freely not merely at elementary level but for higher education too, in order to equip students from Tamil Nadu to face even the toughest competition at the central level, even as we strive to continue to admit students without inequal access that NEET thrusts on our students.