Facemasks to sanitizers: First time since COVID lockdown, 26k Kashmir students to appear in NEET

Srinagar:  For the first time since COVID 19 lockdown, around 26,000 students from Kashmir will be appearing in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) scheduled to be held on September 13.

Union HRD Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ had postponed NEET exams scheduled in July due to COVID 19. September 13 was fixed new date for examinations keeping in mind the prevailing situation.

More than 70 educational institutions have been designated as NEET centers in Kashmir. Besides, the government has identified 13 more schools for NEET centers.

The schools include Tyndale Biscoe School, Mallinson Girls School, Burn Hall School, Iqbal memorial both Girls and boys wing, New Convent High School, Gogji Bagh, and Barzulla branch, New Era Public School, Woodlands House School, The Kashmir Valley School, Tiny Hearts School, Little Angles High School, and JK Public School.

An official associated with the NEET duty said centers were designated for NEET in May but due to the pandemic, the exams were postponed.

“Keeping social distancing in mind, only 15 students will be accommodated in a room. This is why centers have been doubled. Sanitizers will be also kept available at every center. Students will be allowed to sit in examination with a face mask,” the official said.

This will be for the first time that students in Kashmir will appear for any examination since COVID-19 lockdown. All the educational institutions across Kashmir conducted the examinations online. Most of the students were either promoted based on an internal assessment or asked to attempt multiple choice question papers online.