Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma on Thursday said that the National Testing Agency (NTA) is inquiring into the alleged discrepancies in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test or NEET examination conducted in Jaintia Hills and Ri Bhoi Districts of Meghalaya.
Expressing concern over the issue, the Education Minister said the Director General of National Testing Agency (NTA) has informed him that they are still assessing the ground reality on what had actually happened and likely to seek a report from the centre concerned where the examination was held.
“If it has happened then it’s a matter of concern and yesterday I had a word with the Chairman of National testing agency (NTA) personally have informed him and also our honourable chief Minister have taken up the matter with the concern authority. The chairman NTA had informed me that they are still assessing the ground reality on what had actually happened (during the exams). They are doing their inquiry on this so. But we are taking up the matter.”
The Education Minister has personally requested the National Testing Agency (NTA) to conduct reexamination of the National Eligibility cum Entrance (NEET).
” I have personally requested the NTA to re conduct the examination but they informed that based on the situation they are looking at all angles, searching for what really happened. I think they are seeking a report from the centre of what really happened,” Sangma said.
Rakkam held a meeting with a joint delegation of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) and Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) on Thursday.
Expressing his apprehension that that mess up might be done by the centre, the Education Minister said, “This may not be the NTA directly connected (with the question paper problem) but the centre Incharge should be briefed well or trained well. I don’t know where the problem lies. We are waiting for the NTA to decide on this.”
He informed that the health department is also taking up the matter with the central agency. “Principal Secretary in-charge Health Sampath Kuman is also intouch with NTA,” he added.
The delegation along with affected students has urged the education minister to intervene to ensure re-examination is conducted for NEET in West Jaintia Hills and Ri Bhoi districts.
The students alleged that two sets of different question papers Neet-UG 2024 were distributed to the students and this has caused agony to the students.
The students told the media that they have taken up the matter with the State Government.