Stalin writes to PM against introducing NExT for medical students

Chennai, June 13 (BPNS)

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister in a letter to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed his strong opposition to the National Exit Test (NExT).

The Union Health Ministry has announced that a National Exit  Test (NExT) would be held from 2024. NExT would be a single examination that would replace final year MBBS examinations and the National Eligibility Entrance Test –Post Graduation. This will hence act as a qualifying examination for granting registration to doctors.

Stalin in the letter said that NExT need not be introduced and allow the existing system of examination and added that the introduction of NExT was neither in the interest of the students nor in the interests of state governments who fund most of the educational institutions.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister said that this was another instance of diluting the role of the state governments and universities in the health sector and to centralise the power with the central government.

In the letter he said that the NEET-based medical admission system under the National Eligibility Commission has adversely affected the equitable, school-education-based system and its contribution to the public health system.

He said that the curriculum for Medical Education has already been devised under the norms fixed by the NMC in all states.