NEET aspirants from government schools take second model exam
Crash course is being held at three centres in Madurai district; two model exams have been conducted and the third and the nal exam is scheduled for May 2; the course is expected to help students brush up on what they studied over a year
As per the announcement of Tamil Nadu School Education Department for NEET crash course in all districts ahead of NEET on May 5, 490 students of government and government-aided schools in Madurai have opted for it.
The crash course which started at three centres in the district – Madura College Higher Secondary School, P.K.N. Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Tirumangalam, and Y. Othakadai Government Girls Higher Secondary school – since March 27 had two model exams till date. The second exam was held on Monday. The third and the nal exam is scheduled for May 2.
“As government school students who studied in
Class ◣II underwent a weekly NEET course at their respective schools in the last academic year, the 30-day crash course at the verge of NEET will be helpful to brush up what they studied over a year,” said S. Vennila Devi, a teacher and Madurai district coordinator for NEET and JEE.
While many government and government-aided school students had applied for the examination, those who could not aord coaching classes and who found the training given by the government school teachers satisfactory had opted for the crash course.
“As Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology were taught in a day over the course of 30 days, the respective subject teachers from schools in the district took turn to take classes. Apart from this, six teachers were involved in teaching full-time during the course,” said Ms. Vennila Devi.
“In the previous years, due to various reasons, the crash course could be conducted online only. Now that the students are taking part in person, we expect better results,” she said.
“Even if most of the government school students could not score the pass marks in the entrance examination in their rst attempt, the number of students clearing the examination in their second attempt is increasing every year. This instils condence among parents to encourage their wards to continue their second and third attempts,” she added.
Though the enrolled strength was encouraging, it got gradually reduced to 250. Though the high day temperature, long commute between home and the centre, festival season and election could be cited as reasons for the dwindling numbers, teachers at the centre felt that had the students been provided breakfast and lunch along with the snacks provided during the course, the strength would have remained intact.
“As the whole district had only three centres, students from interior parts were required to bring breakfast and lunch. So, it could have been dicult for many to get them ready and still reach the centre on time. If this factor is taken into consideration next year, more students will join the course,” a teacher said.