Inter pass must for paramedic courses

S Ravi Krishna Ponnur (Guntur): The recent orders passed by the Medical and Health Department making the minimum eligibility for paramedical courses as Intermediate came as a blow to the students belonging to underprivileged communities. Previously, the minimum eligibility for paramedical courses was class X. Every year, 25,000 students from the State pursue paramedical courses to get employed. These students study in government schools up to X standard with a plan of pursuing a paramedical course at a local paramedical institution near to their villages for getting employed. Amidst financial troubles, they make it to Class X. Making Intermediate as minimum eligibility shattered their dreams. The socially and economically backward students cannot afford the thousands of rupees fees at private intermediate colleges. Due to the new decision of the Medical & Health Department, there is a risk of high dropout rate in tenth standard. Also, students who have done their Intermediate usually opt for engineering or medicine other graduate courses. It is high time that the State government reviews the decision as nearly 25,000 Class X students go for paramedical courses. With the new development, the lives of so many students are at risk.