Almost 23 lakh students who wrote NEET-UG on May 5, 2024 must be aghast at the unfolding of the entire episode from beginning to the present. Umpteen stories about the way the entire paper leak happened and the way certain elements were facilitated are gradually unfolding in the court as well as in the media trial. Most of the people, institutions and organisations are busy claiming and counter-claiming the ways it happened. Need is to explore why did it happen at all?
Cake Getting Smaller: People Hoping For Larger Slice
Jobs are limited in young India where 65 per cent of its population constitutes workforce. Claimants who are aspirants in the job-market are resorting to every method to prevail and corner a job for themselves. Humanity is at a loss, selfishness is writ large all around. Seems like unnatural selection is going on amid ‘survival of the fittest’. Fittest could be counted as one who has enough money to mess-up the system as being debated in the wake of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test or NEET.
Rich Getting Richer & Poor Becoming Poorer
A section of society has acquired wealth in unlimited proportion with some having unfathomable wealth. Scale of acquisition is so high that they can buy the system at their choice and contribute to systemic failure. Liaison agents are ruling the roost. Customers need to identify the part of the system and the agents quote the price. Deals are struck and the system is taken for a ride on ransom. Rich people have the system at their disposal. This NEET controversy also point to a very prominent question that the society must ponder: If leaks are the problem or they are the symptom.
Birds of a Feather Flocking Together
Students are looking for shortcuts to success. Parents who have money pamper their children so much that they can fetch anything for them, be it degree or a bail. Workers (including teachers and administrators) at different stages are ready to auction their integrity for even small amounts of money. They too are part of the materialistic world, and their wants and aspirations are truly getting unlimited. Leadership to the last man; all are untrustworthy. Honest are honest so long they are not getting an opportunity. All stakeholders are working in tandem. Exceptions may be excluded.
Politicization at its Peak
From crime to sports everything stands politicized. Neither merit-based criticism exists, nor the word ‘appreciation’ in the opposition’s keg or on the ruling party agenda. All are opportunists looking for the issues to castigate each other, rather than seeking a solution to the ever-growing problem. Leadership is busy proving that one’s corruption is no corruption compared to other’s corruption. Issues thus get lost in the quagmire of blame-games and the culprit go scot free.
Paper leaks are mostly caused by instances of corruption in educational institutions and organizations that administer exams. Corruption may involve officials colluding with external entities to gain access to exam papers in exchange for financial gain.
Reality of Merit: The Lower the Rank, Higher The Fees
Paper leaks are not new phenomenon in Indian knowledge business. It has been unearthed throughout history of independent India, both at state and central levels. However, the more hullabaloos were made to contain it; the more it has grown in proportion. More than stringent laws, the need of the hour is to inculcate discipline and honesty among students even at the cost of opposing parents. Engineering the system could wait for engineering the human nature, habit, and persona.
Last Heard: The National Testing Agency (NTA) today published the results of NEET UG 2024, after being directed by the Supreme Court. The results, which were initially announced on June 5, 2024 have been published in the city and centre-wise format following an order of the apex court, which is hearing several petitions about the alleged irregularities in the exam, including paper leaks.
