The Trinamool Congress (TMC) presented a resolution in the West Bengal Assembly calling for the reintroduction of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and criticizing the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). The motion, introduced by TMC legislators including Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, Firhad Hakim, and Aroop Biswas, was passed through a voice vote.
The resolution denounced the National Testing Agency (NTA) for alleged inefficiencies in conducting fair examinations. It urged the state government to restore the JEE to enhance public healthcare services, particularly in remote areas of West Bengal. It argued that NEET, which replaced the JEE, is based on the CBSE curriculum, placing students in the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education syllabus disadvantaged.
State Education Minister Bratya Basu criticized the central government, suggesting that the NEET issue represents only a small part of broader systemic problems. He advocated for the JEE reinstated at the state level, noting that other states, such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu, are also seeking similar reforms.
In contrast, BJP legislators criticized the TMC's stance, referencing the previous school jobs scandal in West Bengal. BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh accused the TMC of hypocrisy, citing the significant recovery of funds related to the scam and questioning the legitimacy of the resolution in light of the Supreme Court's recent decision to uphold NEET-UGC 2024.
Earlier, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to restore the JEE in West Bengal, further fueling the ongoing debate over the examination system.
