Students Hold Nationwide Protests Against NEET-JEE Amid Pandemic, Attendance Dips Nearly 50% on First Day of JEE

Students’ organisations on Wednesday, September 2, held a nationwide protest against conducting National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) exams in the middle of COVID-19 pandemic. Left students’ organisations including Students’ Federation of India (SFI), All India Students’ Association (AISA), All India Students Federation (AISF), All India Students Bloc (AISB) and Progressive Students’ Union (PSU_ were part of the protests across the country.

The left students’ organisations along with the National Students’ Union of India have been demanding the postponement of examination. They had also undertaken an online campaign with the hashtag ProtestAgainstExamsinCovid. Along with issues of COVID-19, students from flood-hit states including Bihar, Assam and Gujarat are also facing difficulties to commute to the exam centres since the transportation facilities are limited. COVID-19 protocols have also limited the transportation facilities of students across the country.

Earlier, while calling for the protest against the exams, the organisations had said in a joint statement, “In the recent pandemic situation, where the entire country is facing an extreme health and economic crisis, we strongly oppose the central government's decision to conduct JEE-NEET examinations for admission to professional courses across the country. As the number of infected as well as the number of deceased is increasing everyday, it is an extremely insensitive move by the government, completely neglecting the health of the students.”

Meanwhile, reports of students attending the first day of JEE exams from various parts of country show that a large section of students have been forced to skip the exams. Some 45% candidates from Gujarat skipped the JEE which began nationwide on Tuesday for admission in engineering and pharmacy courses.

A senior official from Gujarat said the percentage of students skipping the test stood at 25-30% in earlier years and the current figure was "10-15%" more. The state government had said on Monday that 38,167 students had registered for the exam being conducted by the National Testing Agency in 32 centres in 13 districts between September 1-6.

Also read: Several Families in Bengal Shell Out Steep Amounts for Children to Reach JEE (Mains) Test Centres

"On the first day, out of 3,020 registered students, only 1,664, or 55%, remained present, while 1,356 (45%) did not turn up. Normally, 25-30% students skip the exams every year. The percentage this year is higher by 10-15," said Virendra Ravat, JEE Coordinator for Gujarat.

Not only in Gujarat, a large section of students have skipped the first day of exams all over the country. Reports suggest that overall 45% shortage in JEE main exams was recorded by officials. Of all centres, the biggest dip of 50% in number of appearing candidates was in Assam and Dehradun. As per the report, less than 50% attendance was recorded in Assam in the six exam centres across the state on first day of the exam.

While in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow, 44% of candidates did not appear for the examination amid the pandemic. The district officials said that 1,065 candidates from various districts of UP had enrolled for the test and chosen Lucknow centre out of which only 597 candidates appeared in the test while 469 candidates dropped it, reported the Times of India.

Reports also say that in Jharkhand and Raipur, 31.42% and 58% candidates respectively, could not attend the exams on the first day.

Earlier many students and students organisations have pointed out that transportation to exam centres would be a barrier for students along with the COVID challenges. For instance, Uttar Pradesh, one of the biggest states with 75 districts has only 41 exam centres. This shows that students have to travel long distance to attend the exams. 

Over 8.58 lakh engineering aspirants have applied for the JEE exam which is scheduled to be conducted from September 1-6. While, 15.97 lakh medical aspirants have applied for the NEET exam which is scheduled to be conducted on September 13. Usually the JEE is conducted in April and NEET is in May. But, 2020 entrance exams have been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.

Also watch: Why is the Modi Govt. Adamant on Conducting JEE-NEET in September?