The recent NEET question paper leaks have exposed the underbelly of Government conducted competitive exams in India. The pertinent and primary, question is, will the government be ever able to conduct an All-India Exam without corruption?. The second of course is, are there viable alternatives?
The first question, i.e., Government’s capacity to conduct a corruption free, competitive examination, strikes at the crux of the system of governance in India. The credibility, calibre and sincerity of all those who are involved in conducting such an exercise like an All India Examination need a thorough review. And secondly, the more important question, is NEET or any other competitive examination, the most appropriate method for selection for admission to professional courses. Are there not, better processes and alternatives?
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The fact that India is a vast country and there are different demographic and topographical regions by itself may look like an excuse, but it’s not. The basic issue is, considering the stakes involved, more than the students, their parents are more anxious to ensure success of their wards. These anxieties make them gullible; crooks and criminals are always lurking behind the curtain to exploit any such gullibility, added to this, is the huge financial gains, for those who cooperate or concede to deviate their behaviour, if opportunities arises. The fact is these government officials are not insulated against such temptations, because in addition to the monetary temptations, they often lack the mental and moral courage to deny such indulgence. Most of the civil servants and the other officials have developed a mindset that they have to obey to whatever their political masters demand of them. A basic issue of the Indian administrative system. With corrupt politicians often holding power, these attitudes and resultant symptoms are a common place. It’s not that all need to be corrupt but one bad apple in the chain of authority exists, the whole procedures could come to naught.
It may not be possible for the government to always ensure the sincerity and capability of all officials involved in the process of conductance of such examinations.
This is where the country needs a creative and thinking policy makers, who have the capacity of looking at the future of the Nation and think of what is best for the country, without the burden of their party and politics which unfortunately the Indian system of governance is totally devoid off.
Many students appear for these examinations wanting to prosecute studies in Medicine, exposes the inability and unwillingness of the Government to provide sufficient opportunities for those who want to become Doctors. There are huge number of Indian students, going abroad to study medicine, causing a great drain on our foreign reserves to, countries like, China, Ukraine, Georgia, Bangladesh, etc, and ultimately they would practice medicine in India. This shows that the Government has not been catering to the needs of the Indian students. The Government should open such number of Medical colleges, that it would cause a reverse flow of students to India.
The ratio of doctors to population in developed countries is between two to five per 1000 but in India, its less than one per thousand. The health care system in India definitely requires much more Doctors. The Government should shift its attention to rural health care and create, suitable healthcare systems rather than focusing on urban specialisations, mainly for their publicity or some personal agenda, is unfair to the rural population. People living in the remote, rural and poorer areas of India definitely deserve better healthcare. The long queues and unruly crowding at OPDs in most medical college hospitals in India, is a sign of insufficient facilities in Health care in the Country.
The second issue requires bolder decision and deeper thinking. That is, that the common entrance exam system is not the appropriate method to select candidates for a medical education.
The selection should depend, in addition to their intellectual capacity, aptitude and attitude towards serving people in need. This kind of assessment cannot be done by a single examination, definitely not by MCQs, it calls for a systematic and dedicated strategy to asses these capabilities and traits. It’s only in India a person studies medicine merely to prefix to his name with, ”Dr.” or get a doctor’s degree to procure better marriage alliance or dowry. Many women after securing their medical degrees continue to remain home makers. Again, its only in India a doctor with a medical degree becomes a politician, though legally there is no bar. All these kinds of academic wastages could be minimised with a prolonged and yearlong selection process, culminating in a final interview, by the institutional authorities to assess the candidates suitability to prosecute a course of medical studies in their institution. All these yearlong selection process need not involve memorising or answering MCQs and could be done remotely, on line, effectively and efficiently. In all other countries, those who study medicine after getting qualified, practice medicine, or do research or become specialized consultants. None of the countries follow an entrance exam of the type India has.
It’s time that the Government does a purpose-based activity, rather than use their authority to control and usurp, roles which it is not meant for the Government. As representatives of the people, Government should only provide funding and ensure that quality is maintained in education and leave the rest, to the respective Institution, in addition to setting up many more medical education institutions in India. A leading cardiac surgeon Dr Devi Shetty, has repeatedly pointed out that most of the conditions imposed by the Medical Council of India are superfluous and does not augur quality in medical education, so there is need to ask the MCI to come out with realistic conditions and terms to enhance the quality and the number of medical education Institutions.
(The writer is a Professor of Law & an Education consultant)
