Open School, NIOS & Private Students Not Eligible for NEET: MCI

The Medical Council of India (MCI) has confirmed that the students who completed/ passed Class 12 through open school or distance mode are not eligible to appear for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) . Same is the case with private students. The NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling) expressed its disappointment on the latest decision of MCI and claimed that the decision will deprive thousands of medical aspirants to pursue the medical education.

According to sources, Union Health Minister, Mr. JP Nadda and Union HRD Minister, Mr. Prakash Javadekar will take a final decision on the issue by January 17, 2018. While MHRD discredited the MCI order barring NIOS, Open School students from appearing for NEET 2018 , CBSE has upheld the original decision of barring the NIOS students from appearing from NEET 2018 .

Every year, over two lakh students register with NIOS. Last year, around 3,000 students appeared for NEET 2017 , and 864 students had qualified the entrance exam. Therefore, it is unfair to put a bar on open and distance learners for NEET exam. If you are appearing for NEET 2018, here are some important points to remember.

Also Read: NEET Mandatory for AYUSH Courses from 2018

Responding to NIOS, MCI stated that the students who complete Class 12 in open or distance mode would not be on par with those of regular students. Therefore, these students will be ineligible to take NEET exam on an equitable basis.

On the other hand, the NIOS officials claimed that the syllabus was more rigorous for NIOS students, and they are examined for both Class XI and Class XII. Contrastingly, other boards examine students only on Class XII syllabus.

Also Read: Government Seeks Public Opinion on NEET Super Specialty 2018

An official of MCI pointed that regular students would have practical training and lessons in Class 12, whereas open mode learners lack practical lessons and training.

The minimum eligibility required to appear for NEET is 10+2. It is not judicial to bar distance and open mode learners from appearing to NEET.