Again, Valley students allotted NEET exam centres outside Kashmir

Srinagar: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has once again designated exam centres of National Entrance Eligibility Test (NEET) 2019 outside Valley for Kashmir based students.

The move has evoked massive resentment among the students who said their exam has been made costly by the exam conducting body- NTA.

The NEET exams is scheduled for May 05.

“I am from Anatnag but my examination centre has been designated in Jammu. It is not possible for me to attend the exam in Jammu,” said a NEET aspirant.

There are hundreds of such students who have not been provided any exam venue in Valley.

“Everytime Valley students are left high and dry by not allocating any exam centre here,” the aspirants said.

They said exam conducting body has increased number of exam centres in various states but Kashmir candidates continue to face difficulties in arranging logistics as nearby centres have been filled to capacity.

“It is not for the first time when students have been put to mental trauma but state government has failed to ensure NEET centre for all Kashmiri students in Valley,” the aspirants rued.

The dearth of NEET exam centres in valley has deflated the repeated claims of the Governor administration to have exam centres for all Valley students appearing in any national level exams.

Earlier, around 500 students missed their opportunity to appear in GATE 2019 exams as no exam centre was allotted to students in Valley. Though, arrangements were made for students during last hours but the first batch of 500 students missed the exams which was conducted in February.

The incident evoked severe criticism against the State administration and it was assured by the authorities that they will take up the matter with MHRD and ensure that adequate exam centres are setup in Kashmir for valley students.

“But we fail to understand why Valley students have to travel a long distance to appear in the exam. Government is causing unnecessary inconveniences for us,” an aspirant said.

Chairman JK Board of Professional Entrance Examination (BOPEE) Muhammad Ashraf Bukhari ruled out their role in allotment of exam centres for aspirants.

“It is completely done by NTA and BOPEE has no role in it. Exam centres are allotted as per the preference of students and some centres have been set up in Valley as well,” Chairman BOPEE said.

“It wouldn’t have been possible for them (NTA) to accommodate all students in Valley and their centres have been setup outside,” he said.