Dip in govt school admissions likely if med quota bill delayed

“A sudden rise in new admissions to government schools from Class 6 was reported this year after the government decided to implement 7.5% internal reservation for medical aspirants in State-run schools,” a senior official said.

Accordingly, an additional 50,000 students, between mid-September and to date, were admitted in Class 6 this year with their parents clearly indicating during admission that their children would benefit by the reservation. “If the decision to implement the medical seat quota is delayed, many could opt out of government schools,” he added.

The bill proposes that students, who studied from Class 6-12 in government schools, municipal schools, Adi Dravidar and Tribal welfare schools, and Corporation schools in the cities, would be benefited if they qualify for NEET.

At present, the 7.5% horizontal reservation would fetch at least 400 medical seats for government school students.

With two medical colleges under construction and the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare giving its final approval to six more new medical colleges, the number of seats under reservation are likely to be doubled in the coming years, officials said.

“If the quota is not implemented anytime soon, many students would opt out of government schools,” Tamil Nadu Teachers Association president P K Ilamaran said.

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday expressed confidence that Governor Banwari Lal Purohit will give assent to the bill to provide 7.5 per cent reservation in medical admission to government school students clearing NEET, soon. He also slammed DMK President MK Stalin for writing to the Governor on the issue, saying it was an attempt to create an “illusion” that he was responsible for a possible approval by Purohit on the matter. Palaniswami said he had taken up the matter with Purohit and referred to his cabinet colleagues also making a similar request three days ago.