Goa: More centres added, close frisking unlikely

PANAJI: For the NEET to be held across the country on September 13, around 3,000 students are set to appear through 15 centres in Goa. Unlike the JEE, which is a computer-based test, the NEET is a pen and paper exam and its conduct in the states is directly coordinated by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
As per officials, same measures as used during the state board exams and the Goa Common Entrance Test held during the pandemic, will be implemented during conduct of the NEET as well.
This will mean that students per exam centre are restricted to 12 and thermal screening of students will be carried out before they enter the exam hall. If students are found with unusually high temperatures, they will be made to answer the exam from a separate exam hall, as was done during the state board exams and GCET.
From the early days of conduct of NEET in Goa, different CBSE schools in the state serve as exam centres for the test. But as against five exam centres last year, students this year will be answering the exam through 15 centres. This has been done to be able to maintain social distancing of one metre between two students as they enter and exit the exam hall. To meet the requirement of increased exam halls, some college premises have also been roped in for conduct the NEET exam.
Normally, NTA is known to stress on thorough frisking of students before they enter exam halls to ensure there are absolutely no malpractices during the exam. This year, due to the pandemic, frisking is expected to be carried out differently.
“As per the centrally implemented norms, students are only going to be scanned for gadgets and there is unlikely to be touching at the time of frisking, which is reassuring during the pandemic,” said a student.
Same measures as used during the state board exams and Goa Common Entrance Test held during the pandemic, will be implemented for conducting the NEET as well.