Karnataka opts out of 2012 medical entrance test

Stating that the State syllabus is not on a par with that of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Higher Education Minister V S Acharya on Saturday said making the students appear for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) would be unfair as they were not equipped to face such examinations. “Our students will not be able to answer many questions. Such a situation will only make them demoralised. It does not mean that Karnataka is opposing the single window exam. But, we need to equip our students and teachers before accepting the NEET,” Acharya told Deccan Herald.

In 2012, the State will bring the syllabus of the first year Pre-University Course (PUC) on a par with that of the CBSE. And in the subsequent year, the II year PU syllabus will be revised. By 2014, Karnataka will join the NEET.   “Our syllabus has to be upgraded and teachers also have to be equipped to handle that. Then only we can face the national-level competition,” the minister said.

Asked whether the State has a choice to remain out of the NEET, Acharya said the State may approach the court explaining the difficulties in accepting the single exam system in the coming year.

“We will inform the court the practical problems we are facing. We can’t revise our syllabus overnight. We will prepare ourselves before accepting the new system,” he added.

To a query whether any legal course would delay the admission process in the State, he  said the government was yet to take a final decision. The State Cabinet, which met on November 17, had informally discussed the NEET issue. While Acharya and Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda expressed reservations about the NEET, Medical Education Minister S A Ramdas insisted that the common entrance should be followed to help students.  Gowda had also urged ministers Suresh Kumar, C M Udasi, Acharya and Ramdas to discuss the pros and cons of the NEET to help the government reach a consensus. The four ministers, however, have not yet met to discuss the issue. 

The Supreme Court in July this year allowed the MCI and the Centre to conduct a common entrance test for admissions to undergraduate and post-graduate and super speciality courses to all medical colleges in India.