A new deal for science students in Tamil Nadu

Yes, a new committee under the oversight of the School Education Minister has been formed with a set of seasoned academics. However, the fact remains that TN has woken up very late to the reality that the present problems seen by the compulsory introduction of the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET) for all medical institution admissions across the country. 

The fact that students of certain boards of study are getting assessment scores in NEET itself is a pointer to the difference in standards among disparate boards. It is time to relook at the curriculum of science education in Standards XI and XII with a new opticon. Even if one argues that standards in different syllabi should not matter in a national test, the fact is Tamil Nadu has to reform not only its curriculum, but how it is delivered, how the students are assessed and how the how the School Education department needs to have a more systems approach to secondary and higher secondary education. 

Entrance examinations to medical institutions in the country has been going on for a very long time and even NEET as a concept has existed for over six years now. In the last few years, it was clear from several administrative and judicial pronouncements that NEET would eventually become a national level test for all medical institutions. 

In 2009 and in 2012 again when the arguments around national level medical admission tests were raised at many forums, Tamil Nadu has a great opportunity to relook at the curriculum and at examination /assessment reform. Clearly, one set of students in 2017 are facing the problems because of this missed opportunity. 

But at least now that the process of curricular reforms have started, it should be complemented by a series of measures to make all students more prepared for facing competitive tests such as NEET. It also presents a good opportunity for the State departments to look for public-private fruitful partnerships whereby the government can rope in the services of government, aided, and non-aided schools, private providers and test prep companies to create a new ecosystem for training the students. In all about 400,000 students in Tamil Nadu study biology and related subjects. A simple methodology to identify NEET aspirants from among them is not beyond the imagination of the department. 

Then it can look at asking all the providers to pool in resources to offer high quality coaching to students at little cost to face a tough class XII and a tougher all India entrance test. 

This effort should go hand in hand with curricular reforms and upgradation of syllabus, as also retraining teachers – so that we can provide a new deal for all our science students in Tamil Nadu.