Student groups protest at Freedom Park to demand NEET abolition

On Tuesday, left-wing student organisations staged a state-level convention at Freedom Park in Bengaluru to demand the abolition of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and the dismantling of the National Testing Agency (NTA). The protest, held under the banner of saving public education, also called for the withdrawal of the Karnataka Public Schools (KPS) Magnet policy and the immediate filling of vacancies in the education sector.

The demonstration was organised by the All India Students' Federation (AISF), Students' Federation of India (SFI), All India Democratic Students' Organisation (AIDSO), and All India Students' Association (AISA). The event brought together students, educationists, and writers who spoke out against what they described as increasing centralisation and privatisation within the education system.

Addressing the gathering, senior litterateur Prof Baraguru Ramachandrappa stated that while the unity of the left student organisations was significant, simply demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan would not resolve the deeper issues within the education policy.

Ramachandrappa strongly criticised the Karnataka state government’s school policy, alleging that government schools were being closed despite official assurances to the contrary. He pointed out that the newly introduced KPS Magnet scheme was implemented without any public discussion, drawing a parallel to how the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 was rolled out. He argued that by providing quality education only in KPS schools while neglecting other government institutions, the government itself was fostering discrimination and inequality.

Education expert Prof Niranjanaradhya accused the Union government of ignoring nationwide protests against NEET. He stated that the government had played with the lives of 22 lakh students and argued that the entrance exam erases the country's federal structure, social justice, and diversity.

Adding to the criticism, senior litterateur G Ramakrishna commended the students for taking to the streets to protest instead of remaining silent. Education expert Shripad Bhat raised concerns over minimal budgetary allocations for public education, suggesting that political parties do not prioritise the sector. Sunandamma, the Registrar of Akkamahadevi Women’s University, also condemned the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and demanded that the test be scrapped entirely.