MBBS COURSES NOW IN HINDI? WHY NOT IN LOCAL LANGUAGES, WONDER STATES
NEW DELHI: The Centre’s proposal to allow MBBS courses in Hindi has not gone down well with most states. Many states are all set to submit a memorandum to the Centre to introduce medical books in vernacular languages too in regions where students are not fluent in either Hindi or English.
The states are miffed at the proposal submitted to Medical Council of India (MCI) by Bhopal-based Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hindi University which has sought permission from the apex medical education regulator to start MBBS courses in Hindi.
Despite knowing the fact that introducing Hindi would involve several challenges such as availability of medical books, according to sources, the MCI is of the view that when engineering courses can be taught in Hindi, it could be extended to medical courses too.
The government is already facing the heat of opposition parties over demonetisation, the new move is set to further escalate the ongoing tussle. Several states have expressed their reservations over its implementation and demanded medical education in vernacular languages. “Students of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, etc pursuing MBBS would prefer to study in their own mother tongue. So when the government is ready to allow medical education in Hindi, then why it should not be in any other local language?,” a senior official of Tamil Nadu said.
In the country, there are 450 medical colleges, and out of which 150 colleges are in Hindi speaking states. It has been found that students of North India, who are pursuing a medical education, find it difficult to perform due to their lack of fluency in English. Cases of students from rural background cracking prestigious AIIMS entrance exam are common, but it has also been reported that English proves a real stumbling block.
“Similar is the case with medical students studying in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Karnataka, Assam, etc. They have to interact with patients in local languages, so they need education in their own mother language for better understanding of the subjects,” the official said.
According to sources, the MCI had discussed the issue in its Executive Council Meet and after a detailed discussion in the meeting, it was decided to get a report from the varsity on the availability of medical books and journals in Hindi. The MCI has also sought the detailed list of books available in Hindi from the varsity, the source added.
According to sources, the MCI is working on the proposal and is of the view that if books and medical journals are available then there is no issue in granting permission to allow the varsity to start MBBS course in Hindi as MCI conducts medical entrance examination in Hindi too.