Sonia Gandhi Conducts Meeting With CMs Over JEE And NEET Examination Issue

LOn the 26th of August, Sonia Gandhi, the interim President of the Indian National Congress (INC,) conducted an open meeting regarding the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) Mains and National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2020 examinations.

After several requests and protests, on the 25th of August the National Testing Agency (NTA) with the approval of the Supreme Court (SC) and the Central Government issued dates and guidelines of the examinations amid the Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19 situation.

The two entrance examinations for medical and engineering are scheduled in the month of September.

While the NTA is all set to conduct the examinations amid the COVID-19 situation, political leaders and state chief ministers are trying to convince the agency to postpone the dates.

In regard to this, Sonia Gandhi convened a meeting with the chief ministers of seven states regarding the same.

Ms. Gandhi said that the announcements as those related to the National Education Policy should really worry us as it is actually a setback. She termed the New Education Policy as a set back for progressive, secular and scientific values.

During the virtual meeting, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Amrinder Singh Gill, the Punjab Chief Minister, Heman Soren, the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Uddhav Thackeray, the Maharashtra Chief Minister,Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, Puducherry Chief Minister V.Narayanasamy participated.

Ms. Bannerjee, who also wrote to the Central Government regarding the NEET and JEE Mains suggested to approach the Supreme Court once again for postponing the exams.

Ms. Banerjee said, “This will be my request to all the state governments, let us do it together, let us go to the Supreme Court and postpone the exam for the time being until and unless the situation allows students to appear for the exams.”

The concerns were raised by all the state ministers owing to the prevailing Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19 situation.

In addition, Uddhav Thackeray cited a United States (U.S.,) report related to the situation.

The report said, approximately 97,000 children in the U.S., were infected by the Coronavirus disease when schools were reopened. He further said,”What will we do if such a situation arises here?”

Hemant Soren also expressed similar concerns and said, states are not yet ready to hold exams. Mr. Soren said, “When candidates come to exam centres, their parents also accompany them, especially female candidates, which is why the place is likely to become too crowded that may lead to a risky situation.”

The NTA scheduled the JEE (Main) April 2020 from the 1st to the 6th of September and NEET UG 2020 exam for the 13th of September.

This year a total of 9.53 lakh candidates registered for JEE-Mains, 15.97 lakh students have registered for NEET.

Stay tuned for further updates.