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THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 18 May 2020 (NEET is not student-friendly, merit-promoting (The Hindu))

NEET is not student-friendly, merit-promoting (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2: National
Prelims level: National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test
Mains level: Objectives of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test

Context:

The NEET (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test) for medical courses is becoming a sign of over-centralisation in education.
The interests of democracy call for arresting the trend towards the governmental domination of the educational process.

Judicial pronouncements in this regard:

NEET was initially struck down as unconstitutional in Christian Medical College, Vellore (2013) case by a 2:1 majority.
In 2016, a review of this judgment was allowed.
Also, the dissenting judge of the 2013 ..................................

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Observations by the 1948-49 Commission:

Freedom of individual development is the basis of democracy.
Exclusive control of education by the government has been an important factor in facilitating the maintenance of totalitarian tyrannies.
In such countries, institutions of higher learning controlled and managed by governmental agencies -
act like mercenaries
promote the political purposes of the State
make them acceptable to an increasing number of their populations
supply them with the weapons they need

How does it work with NEET?

In the case of education, over centralisation is becoming a reality.
NEET is much an assault on the autonomy of universities and higher education institutions, particularly private, unaided ones.
In the name of state’s power to “regulate”, the rights of unaided private institutions and minority institutions cannot be violated.

Disadvantaged do students:

With NEET and other similar national tests such as the JEE and CLAT, coaching institutes are prospering.
Since most of them are in cities, poorer students from a rural background face a disadvantage.
The case is similar with students who have studied in the vernacular medium.
There is also large-scale variation in the ............................

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Does NEET really promote merit?

The ides of meritocracy requires competition and equality of opportunity.
In the case of NEET, competition cannot be termed as fair and just, and the equality of opportunity becomes illusionary.
Certainly, NEET and other such admission tests do not meet the fundamental criteria of meritocracy.
It is unclear if NEET is adequately measuring the multidimensional construct of merit.
Common admission tests fall short of measuring the abilities that are essential for learning such as imagination, curiosity and motivation.
Empirical research in the U.S. on such tests reveals that these tests are biased against the poorer and underprivileged sections of population.
Thus, there is also an element of 'class' in NEET, which the Indian judiciary has so far overlooked.

Importance of the differential treatment:

Minority rights are not the violation of the equality provision in Article 14 as the Constitution does permit classification.
In fact, substantive equality, as opposed to formal equality, mandates differential treatment.
There are even hundreds of minority institutions of Hindus as linguistic minorities.
The Court’s opinion in ..........................................

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Way ahead:

In T.M.A. Pai Foundation case, the Court had held that admission by the management can be by a common entrance test held by “itself or by the State/University”.
Notably, here, universities and states were treated on a par, and the admission tests conducted by them as well.
In all, an admission process must be fair and transparent rather than just one test for all institutions.
It is nobody’s case that minority institutions can grant admission on their whims and fancies.
But if such an institution follows an identifiable or reasonable methodology, it deserves exemption from common admission test.
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General Studies Pre. Cum Mains Study Materials

Prelims Questions:

Q1. With reference to the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979, consider the following statements:
1. It is applicable to every establishment and contractors that employs five or more migrant workmen from other States; or if it had employed five or more such workmen on any day in the preceding 12 months.
2. The principal employer can employ inter-State workmen without a certificate of registration from the relevant authority.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2