The issue of NEET and medical admissions in the country has been one of the biggest debates of 2016. While this has meant uncertain days for the aspirants, one of the worst hit are the foreign students who had applied for undergraduate medical courses at various colleges in the country. Each year, hundreds of foreign students turn towards India to pursue the MBBS course under the foreign quota run by a number of medical institutes.
Now with the Supreme Court making NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) mandatory for anyone seeking admission in private medical colleges or deemed universities, the fate of these foreign students hangs in the balance since they don̢t fall under this newly formed criterion.
The issue lies in the fact that the eligibility criterion of the NEET exam specifically says that the exam is open only to the Indian nationals or the Overseas citizens of India. Hence, the foreign students aren̢t allowed to sit for the NEET exam, even if they wanted to. It is known that the medical institutes have directed the foreign students to vacate their campus in a week̢s time.
This situation is faced by many including Shenali who came to pursue BDS course at the Manipal University. Belonging to Colombo, her father, Tilak Silva said, ̢My daughter and other foreign students are suffering now only because there is this tricky NEET procedure. First foreigners cannot write NEET exam and now these students are being compared with domestic ones. Where should we go now as we have been asked to leave the campus by October 14. The career of our children has been jeopardised."
Silva further added that, "How can the decision be so blanket. I have already intimated the Sri Lankan High Commission in Delhi and the Foreign Office in Colombo about this situation. We also appeal to the authorities and the Indian Prime Minister to allow some stop-gap arrangements for this 2016-17 batch so that their year is not wasted,"
On the other hand, DCI̢s president, Dr. Dibyendu Mazumdar was quoted as saying, "It is the verdict of the Supreme Court, what can we do about it. Colleges have to abide by it."
Tags: Mbbs Admission India
Neet Exam
Foreign Students Neet
Neet Admission
