Coronavirus: Now home, NEET, JEE aspirants seek change of exam centre

NEW DELHI: Amid the lockdown enforced to control the spread of coronavirus, the minister for human resource and development, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ announced the postponement of major entrance exams on Friday.

To avoid the inconvenience of travelling during a global pandemic, National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, or NEET, and Joint Entrance Examination, or JEE (Main), was suspended till last week of May.

The announcement, however, has stirred anxiety among aspirants who went back to their hometowns due to the country-wide lockdown announced by the prime minister, Narendra Modi. Several aspirants had opted for centres in the cities where they were being coached for the exam. The lockdown has shut coaching centres as well.

Students from across the country travel to coaching hubs like Kota in Rajasthan to prepare for these exams and then write the exams at these places as well. Which is why, at the time of applying, they would have picked examination centres closest to these coaching hubs. However, the lockdown has upset these plans for hundreds.

Fearing that the new schedule will be announced late and give them very little time to travel, aspirants are now requesting the HRD minister on social media to allow a change in the examination centre for entrance tests. Now confined to home, many candidates took to social media to express their concern.

As one student wrote: “As scenario is changed now than earlier while filling form. Kindly provide option for changing centre. As many students were studying at different places and selected centre accordingly. Now around 80% student gone to their homes. Please treat this matter sympathetically.”

The NEET which regulates admission into medical colleges was scheduled to be held on May 3. Earlier in March, the National Testing Agency, or NTA, had suspended the JEE Main which was scheduled for April 5, 7, 8, 9 and 11. The new dates for both will now be announced after April 15 and a reassessment of the situation.

Here is are some of the comments and questions applicants had.

Sir, I want to humbly request you that In view of the circumstances arising due to Corona virus, the aspirants of JEE Mains April should be given a chance to amend their examination centre

— Jaswant Singh (@Jaswant00149683) March 28, 2020

Sir I request you to give an option for changes in exam centre in jee main because it will help lots of students and also help in avoid travellings

— Honey (@Honey40973839) March 27, 2020

As scenario is changed now than earlier while filling form.Kindly provide option for changing centre. As many student were studying atdifferent place nd selected centre accordingly. Now around 80% student gone to their home.. Please treat this matter Sympathetically @ajeetbharti

— Rajthegr8?? (@GoldenXraj) March 28, 2020

Sir as you know lakhs of students taking coaching at Kota for JEE and NEET and Opted for exam center at the place of their coaching..Now most of them are at home. Can you please instruct NTA to provide opportunity to students to reselect their exam centers .@PMOIndia @DG_NTA

— Pramod Kumar Thakre (@PramodK49202731) March 28, 2020

Sir it would be great if we are allowed to change our examination centres for it is very important that we stay in our homes now and avoid being in crowdy places and travelling to the centre is only going to increase the risk of spread if the condition does not improve

— muskan srivastav (@muskansrivasta7) March 28, 2020

Sir please tell me that now I am in gujrat ahemdabad but in may we are shifted in up due to private job.
What should we do now,if there are any option to change the exam center .

— sandhyachaturvedi (@sandhya52198700) March 27, 2020

Sir please consider students who have to travel from abroad to write their NEET exams in India...it’s not safe to travel in this present scenario.. we would be thankful if there is a local center in their respective country they live. This present scenario are not good for travel

— mani maruvada (@manimaruvada) March 27, 2020

A number of students had to change their locations (from their hostels at schools, colleges, coachings to home) and hence an option to change the exam centres will be really helpful.

— Rakesh Kumar Bajpai (@rk_bajpai) March 28, 2020

This will not reduce pressure of students who went their home in holi and didn't returned to their coachings due to this incident. So their exams will not be good as like me.

— Seenu Srivastava (@Seenusrivastav8) March 27, 2020

Also read:

• Coronavirus: KVS to convert classrooms into isolation centres
• Coronavirus: Provide food, healthcare to hostel residents, UGC to VCs

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