MHT-CET valid for govt college admissions, while NEET stands for private colleges, says Tawde
Mumbai : In a small relief to parents and students aspiring for MBBS and BDS seats this year, the Central cabinet has cleared an ordinance which will keep MHT-CET valid for admissions into these courses in government colleges this year. However, those who do not manage to bag one of the 2,810 government college seats for MBBS and BDS in the state, will have to depend on NEET for admissions in private colleges and deemed universities for these courses.
Private colleges have 1,720 seats for MBBS and BDS in the state and deemed universities have 1,675, that is, a total of 3,395 seats will still be under the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET).
Seats of paramedical courses such as physiotherapy and nursing will be filled on the basis of MHT-CET results, as had been the practice.
From next year onwards though, NEET will be applicable for admissions into all government as well as private and deemed universities for MBBS and BDS courses.
Addressing a press conference, Minister for Higher and Technical Education Vinod Tawde said, “By this ordinance, atleast rural and poor students are spared from NEET. I thank all students, parents and politicians who tried in their own way and contributed towards making this happen.” He added that he has only done his duty as education minister and whoever wants to take credit for it can take it. “It was a question about the career of lakhs of students of this batch,” he added.
“I have instructed the HSC board to convene a meeting to decide as to how students appearing next year for NEET can be prepared for it, since exam pattern is different in CBSE,” Tawde said.
Kirti Kulkarni, a student from Sangli was positive that she will get admission in one of the government colleges with her MHT-CET score and will not be preparing for NEET. She had come to Mumbai for NEET coaching after the SC decision making NEET the basis for MBBS and BDS admissions.
Another student Shravya Sirur said that being unsure about the MHT-CET results, she will have to prepare for NEET.
A parent Fathima Hawa felt that they are back to square one. “Seats through MHT-CET have become less this way as private colleges are not in its purview. We don’t come under reservation also, so we have no choice but to prepare for NEET,” Fathima said.
Last month the Supreme Court had held that students will have to answer the national-level NEET to seek admissions into MBBS and BDS seats in medical colleges in the country. It had held all state-level entrance tests invalid for these courses.
