JOIN USThe National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) as the single qualifying examination to obtain medical and dental seats across the country, is never without controversy. If leakage of question papers and cases of cheating in examination halls had dogged it earlier, the ham-handed and arbitrary manner in which the so-called dress code was sought to be imposed on unsuspecting candidates in many parts of the country on Sunday when it held the test, has led to justified anger and outrage. The students were subjected to humiliation and harassment. What would have been the confidence levels of such students who were made to undergo needless inconvenience as they entered the examination halls? The restrictions imposed on the students in the name of dress code was shocking, to say the least. In several states, the girl students were asked to remove their earrings, nose studs and shoes, as a result of which many had to enter the hall barefoot. Boys were made to cut out their shirt sleeves, jeans pockets etc. In Kerala, a girl student was asked to remove her top innerwear as it had a metal hook. The fault lies with the CBSE as it did not give adequate publicity to the dress code before implementing it, as a result of which students were taken aback when they reached the exam venue.
However, after nearly 48 hours, the CBSE admitted to the mistakes and suspended four teachers for dress code excesses, apologised to the students and promised not to put them through such humiliation in future. The Kerala Human Rights Commission has ordered an investigation while the National Human Rights Commission has asked the CBSE to submit an explanation on the excesses.
True, cheating in examinations and using fake certificates and fake marks cards to somehow race ahead in life has become a peculiar national disease which has no simple cure. Perhaps, the CBSE turned extra cautious after being compelled to re-conduct the All India Pre-medical and Dental Test last year as many students were caught using micro Bluetooth-enabled devices fitted into their ears and inner wears. But, enforcing a loosely-drafted dress code that left a lot of examiners confused and brought misery to hundreds of innocent examinees, just before they were to take a career making or breaking examination, was certainly not the best way to ensure its transparency and integrity. Perhaps, instead of leaving everything to the CBSE, the Medical Council of India should also get involved and share some of the burden.