“It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that a son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine, that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation.”– Nelson Mandela
Education is key to building a nation. An educated person creates a better society, which leads to a developed nation and a happy life for its citizens.
Recent blunders in India’s NEET exam were unpredictable. In NEET 2024, 2,333,297 aspirants appeared, with 67 students achieving All India Rank 1, including seven from the same institute. The marking scheme was unacceptable and illogical.
Each year, lakhs of students flock to Kota for NEET and JEE coaching. Poor parents face financial burdens to send their children, and all students encounter academic challenges, exam pressure, anxiety, stress, and fear of failure, sometimes leading to suicides.
To understand students’ pain, we spoke with NEET 2024 aspirant Huda Zarreen from Hyderabad and clinical psychologist Mariya Umam from Delhi.
Huda Zarreen
I dreamt of being a doctor, but my dreams are shattered after seeing the NEET UG 2024 results.
The journey of a NEET aspirant is very challenging. We study 13 to 15 hours a day to fulfill our dreams, secure free seats in government colleges, and make our parents proud. We spend thousands on coaching.
This was my first attempt, but given the circumstances, I don’t think it’s a good idea to take a gap year. Many friends who took a gap year are struggling and worried about their future.
In the past, if we didn’t get into medical school, we could get seats in dental or physiotherapy. But this time, the ranks have increased drastically, leaving no chance in these fields.
We face immense pressure from parents’ expectations and constant comparisons. Students are mentally disturbed; some can’t face failure and commit suicide. Many are depressed and struggling to survive.
NEET was the only hope for students who can’t afford private medical colleges, but now it’s corrupted. A re-NEET exam would only address grace marks. What about the paper leak? This remains unanswered.
After this blunder, how can we trust this agency again? This scam has ruined many futures. As a victim, I feel sorry for deserving students. It’s disappointing to see our educational departments are corrupt. I hope for the best. JUSTICE FOR NEET UG.
Mariya Umam
NEET was meant to ensure fair selection for medical courses. The 2024 results are shocking, eroding trust in the exam process and affecting faith in doctors. Such scandals impact the credibility of medical education.
NEET is mentally taxing, especially for those who take years to prepare, affecting their families and leading to psychological distress. Aspirants sacrifice much to secure seats in top medical institutions, making mishandling of the exam process highly impactful on their lives.
Students face immense stress during NEET preparation. They lack adequate sleep, proper food, and many stay away from their families to prepare thoroughly. The NEET 2024 scam is a grave injustice to all NEET aspirants and raises concerns about our education system.
Parents spend a lot on coaching, hoping their children will qualify for prestigious institutions. Incidents like this shatter their dreams and cause huge financial losses. This impacts their mental health, leading to psychological concerns. Students see their parents’ distress and experience great psychological tolls. Seeing their hard work wasted is traumatizing. Many students commit suicide yearly due to not qualifying for competitive exams, unable to bear the stress. Expectations from NEET students are very high in their families and society.
Exams like NEET are linked to many suicides. Students struggle with academic challenges, leading to feelings of inadequacy and hopelessness. The pressure to perform well can be overwhelming. In 2024 alone, by June 6, 10 NEET aspirants died by suicide in Kota, Rajasthan. The pressure from competitive exams is severe, and scams like NEET 2024 create major turmoil in students’ psychological well-being.