BiPC students at crossroads

• Private colleges lobbying hard for own test
• State officials: Eamcet to continue
• NEET case in SC

The prospect of triple entrance examination for admission into first year MBBS and BDS courses next year has been staring at students of BiPC stream. The students, who on one hand have been struggling hard to continue the studies due to uncertainty in state politics, are also in a state of utter confusion as to what they will have to face in May next year.

There appears three ways. One: Eamcet would continue despite division of the state since politicos on both sides are expected to agree that the careers of lakhs of students should not be disturbed. Two: Private colleges, of late, have been pressing hard to allow them to conduct their own test. Three: A judgment on NEET review case, now pending in Supreme Court, is expected to be pronounced sometime in the next two months.

It might be recalled that the apex court has cancelled NEET on the ground that the Medical Council of India (MCI) does not have the authority or competence to conduct such a national test of high importance. It was 2:1 verdict and the Union Government has expressed strong reservations over the verdict. The Union Ministry of Health has filed a ‘modification’ petition seeking a second look at the verdict since a uniform national test for admissions into medical colleges is very much necessary in the overall interest of the country.

While dismissing the NEET, the Supreme Court has, in principle, agreed to allow the managements of private medical colleges to conduct their own test. This had become a shot in arm for the private medical colleges. In a meeting held with the state government two days ago, the representatives of the colleges have raised the issue and discussed the modalities with the officials of Medical and Health. The representatives have sought government’s permission to hold the test for all the seats in their colleges but it was reportedly rejected.

“Nothing is finalised yet. As per the existing norms, only 40 per cent of total seats will be under management quota. But the Supreme Court order stated that private colleges can conduct the test for all the seats provided it is agreeable to the state government in consultation with the monitoring authority. Some nitty gritties involved in this” LV Subrahmanyam, Principal Secretary of Medical and Health Department told The Hans India.

Top sources said that the minister for medical education, Kondru Murali is favourably inclined to grant permission to private colleges. Colleges have been exerting pressure on the government to okay for a test even for 40 per cent of seats which are under their quota. NTR Health University or a special committee may be asked to monitor the entrance examination if at all the private colleges are allowed to conduct the test.

“Our request is not for this alone. We want substantial hike in fee structure, at least 30 per cent in addition to a 10 per cent inflationary adjustment surcharge annually. This is the reason why we asked the government not to fix up fee structure, which is supposed to be revised this year itself. Let the government make it for the next three years starting from 2014-15” Dr Ganni Bhaskara Rao, General Secretary of Private Medical College Managements Association told The Hans India.

“Several irregularities were found in admissions this year and in many cases, colleges have flouted the MCI norms. The colleges should correct them first before asking for anything” Subrahmanyam made it clear.

But top officials of Higher and Secondary Education have expressed confidence that medical admission will be done through Eamcet even in 2014.