letterstoeditor
LET NEET BE THERE
With reference to Dr Raj Bahadur write up “Medical education: Do the NEET-ful…”, holding of NEET as a single qualifying test for admission to all medical colleges in the country is one of the most defining educational reforms. The government is only implementing the Supreme Court direction on the issue. No doubt, there are troubles in the implementation of the test but these will be overcome with time. Those with vested interests are opposing it, but the society at large will benefit from it. Hopefully, the government will proceed as planned while conducting a similar test for engineering colleges from 2018.
Dr BN Anand, Chandigarh
II
The HT comment “JEE, NEET cannot gauge aptitude” (September 12) is very informative and exposes the deficiencies of both NEET and JEE. As a health and human rights activist, I strongly feel that our education system is rudderless where students do not know what is going to happen next day. I feel Anitha’s death should be an eye opener for the policymakers to initiate revolutionary educational overhaul where NEET and Class 12 examination should be combined into one qualifying exam. Anitha despite good scores did not get through because the NEET format is “item-response theory” which is difficult to understand. Dr Vitull K Gupta, Bathinda
A TOUCHING MOMENT
With reference to Army Chief Bipin Rawat bowing before 80-year-old Rasoolan Bibi, widow of Param Vir Chakra awardee Havildar Abdul Hamid, it was a touching moment. The occasion was the martyr’s 52nd martyrdom anniversary at his village in UP’s Gazipur district. It reflects the ethos of the armed forces where we care for the families of our soldiers. Abdul Hamid was a hero and hundreds of youth from his area have joined the forces following his footsteps. It also reiterates that the armed forces are the most secular organisation of our country. The government, bureaucracy, and the civil society will do well to pick up a thread from this. Colonel RD Singh (retd), Ambala Cantt
TURNING EDUCATION INTO COMMODITY
The present public education system has suffered a body blow due to the government’s policies. Many private universities and colleges have turned education into a commodity. They are brazenly indulging into money minting by compromising with quality. Many private players enjoy political patronage and charge exorbitant fees. Teachers, who are entrusted with building a better society, are themselves victims of uncertainty and insecurity. Encouraging privatisation in education is completely unjustified. The government regulatory bodies should step in to monitor the functioning of private educational institutions where qualified teachers are grossly underpaid and are burdened non-academic work. Karan Singh Vinayak, Chandigarh
A GORY MURDER IN SCHOOL
A child was murdered on the school premises and nobody noticed the perpetrator committing the crime. Then there was public outcry and as the government as a matter of a routine started looking for scapegoats. Is the school management only responsible for lack of security arrangements? What about government officials who are dutybound to ensure the security measures were on place? Why no official has not been arrested and questioned so far? As usual they will keep sitting pretty comfortably till next happening and they will blame a management person, arrest him and close the file.
Kamal Arora, Panchkula
II
A brutal murder took place at a reputed school in Gurgaon. It was followed by debates on TV channels and newspapers. But the fact of matter is that if an independent survey is carried out no school in the country will meet the prescribed safety norms. How building licences are cleared by the departments concerned is known to everyone. It has become a status symbol for the parents to send their wards to expensive schools with all amenities. Unfortunately, such tragedies happen in such schools. The government should take the issue seriously and take strict measures so that such incidents do not happen again. Mahesh Chander
NOFLY LIST A WELCOME MOVE
Introduction of “no-fly list” to punish rowdies who not only misbehave with the staff but also jeopardise the safety of fellow passengers is a welcome move by the civil aviation ministry. This intolerance to hooliganism must be extended to clinics and hospitals where unruly mobs not only vandalise the public property but also sully the image of doctors. A law to deny treatment to these lumpen elements in hospitals on the lines of the no-fly list must be proposed to curb this menace of self-vigilantism. Dr Abhinav Sharma, Ludhiana
DO NOT FIND GLORY IN PAST
At the 125th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s address at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi very rightly said that now the world judges India where it is today and not what it was in the distant past. It is true that presently we pride ourselves more on India’s so-called great ancient culture than raise its stature in the modern world through progress. We also need to follow Modi’s advice that states must celebrate each others’ cultural events .This will promote emotional integration and unity in the country. Regarding his statement that there is no better place than a university for innovation and creativity, it is possible only if such institutions are left alone.
Tarsem Singh, Mahilpur