CM Stalin Slams NEET-PG Postponement, Calls for Overhaul of Centralized Exam System

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed strong disapproval of the National Board of Examinations (NBE) for postponing the National Eligibility Entrance Test, Postgraduate (NEET-PG), just a few hours before it was scheduled to occur on Sunday, June 23, 2024. This sudden change, Stalin argued, was not an isolated event but rather indicative of a pattern of mismanagement and inefficiency within the centralized selection system for professional courses. He pointed out that this postponement came in the wake of the cancellation of the UGC-NET, a move that had already unsettled the academic and professional plans of numerous candidates. According to Stalin, these repeated disruptions have caused significant distress among thousands of doctors who were relying on these exams to progress in their careers.

In a strongly worded social media post, Stalin characterized these actions as more than mere administrative hiccups; he described them as the final nails in the coffin of what he termed an "incompetent and broken system" of centralized selection. He suggested that such occurrences expose fundamental flaws in the current system and called for an overhaul to create a more reliable and just process. Stalin labeled the postponement of NEET-PG and similar events as part of a broader "scam," indicating systemic corruption and inefficiency.

Stalin's criticism extended to the broader implications of the centralized examination system. He advocated for a selection process for professional courses that is fair and equitable, one that places a greater emphasis on the primacy of school education as the foundational base for students' future careers. By doing so, he argued, the system would better reflect the diverse educational needs and contexts of different states.

Furthermore, Stalin called for a restoration of the rights of individual states to determine their own selection processes for professional courses, including medical programs. He emphasized that this decentralization would not only be more democratic but also more attuned to the specific educational landscapes of each state. He stressed that these changes are essential for reinstating hope and confidence among students and their families, who have been repeatedly disillusioned by the failures of the current system. Through these reforms, Stalin envisions a system that is more supportive and empowering for students, ensuring that their hard work and educational achievements are appropriately recognized and rewarded.