WE THE PEOPLE
Sane Voices Critical of Adopting AIPTM In J&K State
Hence People demand traditional format for conducting entrance into MBBS/Dental Courses
By: MNS/ Makhdoomi
Srinagar: The issue of All India Pre Medical Test (AIPMT) for MBBS in the state of Jammu & Kashmir is a very hot issue this time in the state. AIPTM is a yearly college entrance examination in India. The exam is conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Delhi for admission to MBBS and BDS courses in several medical colleges around the country. Presently, 15% of the total seats in all medical and dental colleges run by the Union of India, state governments, municipal, or other local authorities in India, except in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, are reserved for candidates who qualify this examination.
The All-India standardized test was revolutionary in its concept as its primary aim was to enable equitable availability of medical education to all regions of the country and to foster inter-regional exchange. Till recently an additional uniqueness was that it was one of the few all India competitive examinations (along with the examinations for defence services) that was completely merit based and without any reservations. However, in 2006, under pressure from the Arjun Singh headed Human Resources ministry, reservation for SC,ST and OBC has been undertaken in AIPMT.
It consists of exam at two levels. First is preliminary conducted usually on 1st Sunday of the April month? The second is mains conducted in the month of May. It is the most awaited and respected exam of the pre-medical exams. AIPMT is equivalent to All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE), which is also conducted by CBSE for entrance to engineering colleges in India. In 2009 the preliminary examination was conducted on 5 April 2009 and the final (mains) was conducted on 10 May.
However, the talk of adopting such “entrance mechanism” for MBBS in our state is drawing wider criticism on account of poor syllabi and turmoil like conditions which can deprive the students of the state, especially Kashmir from competing at a national level.
“Mirror of Kashmir” talked to wider section of people over this issue. The Principal Government Medical College Srinagar, Dr Shahida Mir, while talking with this correspondent said, “We have to bear in mind that we are following the NCERT pattern of syllabus and this test uses the CBSE mode, so if we go with this pattern the student community of our state would not be able to compete in an effective manner”.
DR.Maqbool Ahmad, a senior Psychiatric Doctor of the state, while talking to this correspondent said, “The issue of having an All India Medical Entrance has serious repercussions for the people of Kashmir. Our region is full of uncertain situations and in such a situation our students would not be able to compete in a healthy way in any such “entrance”. We need to follow our traditional format in order to avoid stagnation in our medical profession”.
It is worth mention out here that the burning issue of new all-India level entrance-cum-eligibility test for MBBS in Jammu and Kashmir recently also rocked the State Assembly, with the Peoples Democratic Party asserting that the new test pattern should not be applicable to the state suggesting that the government is understood to be in favour of holding a common all-India level entrance-cum-eligibility test for MBBS aspirants, Mehbooba Mufti demanded the national level Test for MBBS should not be applicable in the state where NCERT pattern is followed. “In rest of the country it is the CBSE syllabus in vogue. This difference will jeopardize the interests of those students of the state who aspire for MBBS and minimize their chances to make it to the prestigious medical entrance test,” she maintained.
The realities suggest that we need to follow the traditional format for conducting entrance into MBBS considering the peculiar situation we are faced with.
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