NEET controversy serious threat to students’ future, says Pinarayi Vijayan

T'puram: Pinarayi Vijayan has strongly criticised the alleged irregularities and question paper leaks surrounding the NEET examination, describing the issue as "extremely serious and condemnable" and a direct threat to the future of lakhs of students across the country.In a statement, the outgoing chief minister said the repeated controversies linked to the examination have shattered the confidence of students who spend years preparing for NEET through hard work and sacrifice. He said the failure to ensure the security and credibility of the examination system was a major embarrassment to the country's education sector.The CPM politburo member alleged that question paper leaks were not being reported for the first time since the National Testing Agency (NTA) was entrusted by the central govt with conducting major examinations. He demanded that NTA be disbanded and the responsibility for conducting examinations be handed back to respective govt agencies as in the past.Expressing concern over allegations related to question paper leaks, corruption and the role of coaching mafias, Vijayan said such irregularities deny deserving students fair opportunities, particularly those from economically weaker backgrounds who prepare for the examinations amid severe financial difficulties.Vijayan also called for a comprehensive, transparent and time-bound investigation into the controversy and demanded exemplary punishment for those found responsible. He urged the central govt to intervene urgently to restore the credibility of the examination system."The future of students cannot be treated as an experiment. Entrance examinations should not be turned into a farce that destroys students' dreams," he said.