| Nagaland applies 60:40 AIPMT: NSPMT formula for MBBS/BDS seats
The All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) were recently conducted to fill the 56 seats (MBBS and BDS) allotted to Nagaland State—no Naga student could qualify the exam to fill any of the seats. This led Nagaland’s Directorate of Technical Education (DoTE) to conduct the Nagaland State Pre-Medical test (NSPMT) on August 9 to give students another chance. While the NSPMT did not give the best of results either, the DoTE (Common Selection Board) has now prepared a merit list for provisionally qualifying students based on a 60:40 weightage of the AIPMT and NSPMT marks respectively. Following a round of counseling on September 3, the final selection to the seats will be made.
Both competitive exams have proved to be difficult for the students, leading to the Government of Nagaland coming up with the 60:40 formula. There has also been considerable confusion on part of the authority concerned on qualifying students to the given quota seats.
A student from G. Rio School, Kohima, who appeared for the AIMPT on May 4, is of the view that the exam is not hard to crack if “students work hard and understand the basics.” However, some questions that were included in the test were outside the Nagaland Board of Secondary Education (NBSE) syllabus which proved to be a “bit difficult” for the students.
A student from Kohima Science College who appeared for the AIMPT says that around 10 per cent of the questions were out of the Nagaland syllabus. The student, however, is of the view that the lackadaisical attitude of the Naga students is to be blamed. The State as a whole needs to take this problem as a challenge to further improve the career of the Naga students.
“In no way are we less than others. Our students are investing very less hours in studies compared to other societies, and we are often involved in more social activities,” said Dr. Pewezo Khalo, who is also of the view that the students are not able to compete with others because of the poor standard of education system in Nagaland, which is not on par with the rest of the country.
In the case of neighbouring state, Manipur, 241 students were selected in the merit list for 131 seats available i.e. 115 MBBS and 16 BDS (Source: Directorate of Health Services, Government of Manipur).
The fault, however, does not lie with the students alone. The DoTE was both “negligent and ignorant,” stated a parent, about the criteria set by the Medical Council of India for the admission of students in India to medical schools. While only 7 states (and 6 University/medical Colleges) in India go for the AIPMT, the rest conduct their own state examinations. The DoTE remained “ignorant” of much of this, and the students thus remained ill informed about criteria or level of preparation. Even now students are not sure how to select their institution as all availability of seats is yet not known to them. The Nagaland State Government informed through a notification that it is in receipt of 22 MBBS and 8 BDS seats from various North East Regional sources. The State is still “expecting” to receive 24 MBBS and 2 BDS seats from Government of India (details available on www.dtenagaland.org.in).
In line with the recent demands of the Naga Students’ Federation, parents have asked for the “streamlining of the selection process to MBBS and other allied courses” for students in Nagaland State.
Reflecting on the present education system, Dr. Khalo stated that the concerned authority need to analyse what could be factor for the failure so that such incidents do not repeat again.
Self-reflection on the part of the State would also be key.
Dr. Khalo suggested that parents need be involved and assess the performance of their children. Although the demand is very high for medical studies, students need to understand that it is a competitive world and that their knowledge need to be expanded and reading related journals, magazines and textbooks are a must. Often students are poorly equipped to face exams therefore, school and college authorities and teachers should provide orientation to the students before the exams. Knowledge alone cannot help in this matter, some pre-assessment tests needs to be conducted before the actual exam.
Given the essentials, a crucial factor that Dr. Khalo highlighted is that parents should not force their children to study a course against their will. “Let them choose the subject of their interest. A mere degree will not help them in fulfilling their ambition in life,” he said. |