NEET-UG Paper Leak: A Wake-Up Call for India’s Devalued School Assessment System

The recent controversy surrounding the NEET-UG paper leak has brought to the forefront a deeper concern in India’s educational system - the devalued and demeaned school assessment system. This has given rise to a sprawling coaching culture and exam leak mafia, which is a far cry from the ideal of education. According to a national news report, academics, educational experts, and senior officials associated with the Union Education Ministry have all emphasized the need to restore the primacy of school-level teaching and learning. This can be achieved by increasing the weightage of school-level examinations in entrance exams.

Every year, lakhs of students are opting out of mainstream schooling and instead, enrolling in “dummy schools” attached to coaching centers. This is because the education system has rendered school learning, performance, and even board examinations redundant. The system has created a culture where students are forced to focus solely on cracking entrance exams, such as NEET or JEE, rather than developing their overall skills and personality.

The issue is further complicated by the fact that the weightage system is faulty and devalues the entire school-based teaching and learning process. For instance, students need to score a minimum of 75% in class 12 board exams to be eligible for JEE Mains, but only 50% for NEET-UG. Moreover, there is no standardization among different boards across the country, with each state conducting its own board examinations for class 12th. This has led to a situation where students are forced to enroll in dummy schools just to meet the minimum eligibility criteria for entrance exams.

Educational experts argue that this weightage system is flawed and neglects the importance of school-level competency and performance. As a result, students are not encouraged to develop their skills, socialize, or pursue their passions. Instead, they are forced to focus solely on clearing entrance exams, often at the cost of their mental and emotional well-being. The high stakes involved, including the financial burden on parents and the paper leak mafia, only add to the pressure.

The consequences of this system are far-reaching. Students who are unable to crack entrance exams often become depressed, and some even attempt suicide due to the lack of holistic development. Moreover, higher educational institutes do not want mechanically and heavily coached students. They seek students who have a well-rounded education and can think critically and creatively.

Therefore, the recommendations of educational experts that school-level performance across curricular and co-curricular areas, projects, and internships should be accorded weightage in all entrance exams taken just after school, should be welcomed by the Ministry of Education and implemented as soon as possible. The government must pay attention to the issues, causes, and recommendations to ensure that young minds are guided towards overall holistic development through a well-spun school educational system. This will help increase mental aptitude and enable students to get into renowned higher educational institutes. Ultimately, a country needs good citizens who can work towards the betterment of society, not just well-trained machines.