Coronavirus fallout: Tamil Nadu students want Neet put off to June

TNN | Mar 26, 2020, 07.07 AM IST

The crisis triggered by Covid-19 has hit preparations for National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test, scheduled for May 3, with students and teachers saying the Centre should put off the test till at least June. Many coaching institutes had even planned to start a crash course from Wednesday.

Catherine Cressey, a Class XII student from city, said if Neet was held as per schedule, state board students would find it very difficult. "We have just finished our board exams. This is a crucial period and we are not able to interact with the trainers," she said.

"We are not able to clarify doubts with teachers. Compared to pen and paper mode test, we could not take online test that serious as there was no time limit," said M S Cyrus, a state board student from Tambaram. He said they needed at least one and half months for.

While T Manmadhan, who attended government-sponsored coaching classes at Government Higher Secondary School in MGR Nagar, wanted Neet postponed to either June or July, Nisha Rajendran, who also attended coaching classes, said all the news about the corona virus crisis was disturbing and putting off the test would help students prepare with a relaxed mindset and improve their performance.

Some principals said if exams were held as scheduled, students of CBSE and other boards would be at an advantage as Neet is based on NCERT syllabus and they don't need special coaching. "Our students [those following state board]would start intense preparation only after board exams," said N Vijayan, senior principal, Zion Group of Schools.