Medical CET in Marathi problematic -- MUHS VC

Medical CET in Marathi problematic -- MUHS VC
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

Nashik, Jan 16: The State Government's move to conduct the Common Entrance Test (CET) in the regional language would create technical problems as medical courses are conducted in English, Vice-Chancellor of the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) Dr Dayanand Dongaonkar said.

Talking to reporters today, Dr Dongaonkar said the CET comprised objective type questions and there was very little to write in the answer papers. He pointed out that only 1,500 to 2,000 students would be benefited out of it and they, too, would be required to study further in the English language. He said that conducting the CET in Marathi would create technical problems.

He further said the MUHS had made all preparations for the forthcoming CET, but has remained silent following a GR from the State Government declaring that the department of medical education and training and not the MUHS, would conduct the CET.

Dr Dongaonkar said the MUHS has moved Chancellor Dr P C Alexander on the issue as conducting the CET was under the jurisdiction of the university as per the MUHS Act, 1998. He said the State Government had also been informed about the displeasure of the MUHS.

He said though the government had decided to conduct the CET, it was unlikely that it would wind up the MUHS. He pointed out that the financial assistance from the government to the university had not been curtailed and the latter was getting its due. He said the MUHS was interacting with medical councils for standardisation of syllabii and accreditation of institutions.

He also said the MUHS was doing well despite being understaffed, with only 53 employees. He pointed out that 219 medical colleges across Maharashtra were affiliated to the MUHS and out of the remaining 16, nine were ayurvedic colleges and the matter was being sorted out.

Dr Dongaonkar declared the results of the entrance test for post-graduate medical and dental courses conducted on December 24 at Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad and Nagpur centres. He said the admission process for the dental courses would begin from January 21 and for medical courses from January 23 at the Nashik Municipal Corporation's hospital at Kathada, Nashik.

He said all the post-graduate students would report for duty in rural areas for one year from February 1. He said the MUHS had identified colleges for conducting a health survey in the State and the survey would begin from the forthcoming academic year. He added that another survey was being conducted by the university on behalf of the Indian Council for Medical Research, to study the use of drugs by people.