NEET, JEE and the coaching trap

The introduction of NEET and JEE, the nationwide entrance tests for medical and engineering courses, initially raised high hopes and expectations. It was an honest attempt to address the many drawbacks of the earlier selection methods. Previously, there were disparities between states, and multiple entrance tests were conducted across the country. Students not only had to take multiple tests but also travel long distances to appear for them.

To streamline the process, the Government of India established the National Testing Agency (NTA) with the main objective of creating a uniform and efficient testing system for the entire country. Now, after several years of implementation, it is time to assess the pros and cons of this initiative.

NEET and JEE select students solely based on their performance in these tests, with no weight given to their Class XII (Plus 2) scores—the qualifying examination. Under the earlier system, 50% of the selection criteria were based on board exam performance and 50% on entrance tests. This was a more balanced approach, acknowledging both a student’s long-term academic performance and their ability to perform in a single test.

Currently, the only eligibility condition is that students must score at least 50% in their main subjects in the qualifying exam. Thereafter, the entrance test is the sole determinant of admission. This is one of the biggest flaws of the system.

As a result, students are compelled to abandon their schools after Class 10 and enrol in coaching centres—many of which function more as ‘teaching shops’ than educational institutions. These centres drill students rigorously for entrance tests, often at the cost of extra-curricular activities and personality development. This raises an important question: Is it wise to turn students into mere test-taking machines? Schools that nurtured these students for 10 to 12 years now watch helplessly as they leave en masse for these coaching centres, which charge exorbitant fees while promising guaranteed success. 

In January 2024, the central government released Guidelines for Regulating the Coaching Centres and instructed states and Union territories to frame rules to curb their unchecked expansion and malpractices. However, there is little evidence of any corrective action.

Although integrated coaching with +2 courses in schools and PU colleges has been declared illegal, this rule is widely ignored. Coaching centres continue to operate with impunity.

The authorities must take a long-term view of this issue. The practice of disregarding qualifying exam marks and relying entirely on entrance test scores has weakened good schools while allowing coaching centres to reap the benefits of their hard work.

The Government of India must appoint an expert committee to study the impact of both NEET and JEE on the country’s academic environment. Has the system improved or lowered the morale of schools and junior colleges? Is there merit in reinstating some weightage for board exam scores? Would such a change ensure greater fairness and equity, especially for students and schools?

Another pressing concern is the psychological toll these tests take on students. The immense pressure has led to a disturbing rise in student suicides. The government must examine these tragic consequences and ensure that young lives are not lost to an unjust system.

The efficiency of a testing system should be judged not only by its administrative efficiency but also by its impact on students’ well-being.

At its core, NEET and JEE have become a nightmare for students and the schools that have taught them for over a decade. Something is deeply flawed. It’s not clear whether various school boards or state governments have raised these concerns with the HRD ministry, which oversees the NTA. The NTA must undertake a study on the feasibility and impact of the two massive tests. The NTA owes an answer to the nation.

Recently, the Ministry of Education and CBSE announced that from next year, Class 10 students will have the option to take two exams. This move aims to reduce the stress of a single high-stakes exam and aligns with the NEP 2020. The ministry has noted that this model is similar to the SAT system in the US, which allows students to take multiple tests and submit their best scores.  Hopefully, the same logic will be extended to entrance tests like NEET and JEE.

(The writer is Director, Little Rock Group of Institutions, Udupi)