Parents want NEET eligibility for pupils after open school biology course
Non-medical students of class XII, attempting to add biology subject from the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), to their subject profile are running from pillar to post, demanding recognition of the one-year course to qualify for appearing in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) examination for entry in medical and BDS courses.
Parents are saying that they are not getting the correct response from the National Medical Commission or Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot. Students have very few days left for applying till the last date of July 31.
A parent from Bathinda, Harmeet Singh, said, “We attached, in our communication, a public notice of the National Medical Commission, dated February 22, earlier this year. He said, “As per the Graduate Medical Education Regulations (GMER-23), studying through National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) is allowed for appearing for NEET UG examinations.”
In charge of the NIOS Centre in Kabir Convent School, Bathinda, Avtar Singh Dhiman, said, “The one-year biology course is valid while appearing for the NEET. The two-year syllabus is covered under a set module. The required practical examinations for the subject are also conducted at earmarked centres”.
Harmeet Singh said his son had completed his plus two (non-medical) in March 2025. “He told me that he was not interested in pursuing a career in engineering. He said he wanted to study biology and attempt clearing the NEET in 2026. It will make sense only if the Medical Commission recognised its validity for the Open school certificate.”
He said, “I have personally visited the commission office in New Delhi and Baba Farid University, Faridkot, but, have still not got any reply not even to my mail.”
Replying to The Tribune correspondent, the Registrar of Baba Farid University, Dr Arvind, said, “I think his case is genuine. We have already forwarded the university query to the authorities concerned and expect an answer very soon.”
Principal of Government Senior Secondary Smart School Jethunangal (Amritsar), Sudarshan Kumar, said, “When the Open School is a recognised qualification for appearing in NEET, there is no reason why students should not be allowed to opt for adding a subject to their repertoire.”
Punjab