Shillong, May 9: Following reported discrepancies in Sunday’s NEET exams, Education Minister Rakkam Sangma said today that he has spoken with the Chairman of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and said that once the authorities receive the ground report they will examine the demand for re-examination.
“It is a matter of concern. I had a word with the NTA personally and the Chief Minister has also taken up the matter with the agency,” Sangma said.
The CM took to social media to reassure the public that the state authorities are actively addressing the issue with the NTA, which oversees the pre-medical NEET exams nationwide.
Candidates from the Jowai centre along with the Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) today met Sangma seeking a clarification regarding the distribution of two sets of different NEET question papers.
Four affected students, Sneinbha Suchiang (21), Deogratias Kympat (19), Dukifina Suchiang (21) and Wanteibok Pator (19) expressed disappointment and mentioned that such instances makes them feel demotivated.
The candidates mentioned that the centre randomly distributed two sets of question papers namely (1) QRST & (11) MNOP which are different questions and given at the beginning of separate timing of the examination. This has caused generalized panic reactions. “In this regard, we, the affected candidates, would like to seek clarification as to why there are two types of question papers for the same purpose and also which sets are correct and which set is wrong,” the candidates informed.
Sneinbha Suchiang expressed that he does not come from a well-to-do family and taking another drop/break to prepare for the NEET exams will require a lot of resources. “My family is not well off, the optimal resolution for me to do now is to find a job and help my family since I’m the oldest and at present my mother is the sole breadwinner. There are many students who share the same situation,” said Suchiang who had attempted the exams for the third time.
JSU General Secretary Treibor Suchen urged NTA to consider the situation of the affected students and urged for a re-examination. “We urged the minister incharge to speak to NTA and inform them about the incident. Our demand is that NTA should re conduct the exams in the state of these centres where there was a discrepancy,” said Suchen.
