NIMA Students wing opposes cap on maximum attempts to clear BAMS Exam
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Mumbai: While appreciating the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) for allowing additional attempts to students who failed exams for Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS), the students' wings of the National Integrated Medical Association (NIMA) has demanded to scrap the exam rule fixing a cap on such attempts.
According to the new rule amended in 2016, students are mandatory to clear four and half year BAMS course in 9 years following the carry on exam pattern.
Currently, only four attempts in the three years are provided to students to clear the exams. However, the association pointed out that no such rule or restrictions regarding the maximum number of attempts at the examination has been applied in case of MBBS or BDS students. Hence, applying such rules only for BAMS courses is only sheer injustice. NIMA demanded that authorities should scrap new amendment. It also highlighted the importance of monitoring the private BAMS institutes in Maharashtra.
In its recent release, NIMA stated that NCISM released a letter on 15, December 2021 and provided 3 additional attempts to the failed students of BAMS. These students already exhausted all attempts to clear first-year exam. They were told to be expelled from universities. Since the COVID-19 pandemic many students are facing problems in education. Medical colleges were turned off, practical was not happening for two years properly. Considering COVID crisis NCISM allowed additional 3 attempts to the failed students.
"NIMA Student Forum Nagpur welcomes this decision of NCISM. But as this is partial relief, permanent justice should be served to such students. Because expelling such students from course could result into less doctors producing as per seat capacity", added the association.
NIMA mentioned that BAMS is four and half year course with one year internship at end of the course. To get clear each year only four attempts in the three years are provided to students and ATKT is provided to if failed, known as carry on examination pattern.
In 2016 amendment, it was mentioned, " The failed student of first Professional shall be allowed to appear in second professional examination, but the student shall not be allowed to appear in the third professional examination unless the student passes all the subjects of first professional examination and maximum four chances shall be given to pass first professional examination within a period of maximum three years."
Similar rules were applied in the case of the rest of the years as well.
However, NIMA pointed out that before 2016, re-examination after six months was provided without carrying on to the next year. The earlier pattern was without the restriction of attempts. Moreover, pointing out that MBBS and BDS course has no restrictions on attempts or years so far, the association added, " Why so such rule for BAMS course? This is a violation of equality before the law as all medical courses are equivalent, rule of examination should be equal too."
" NCISM is apex council which makes rules and syllabus regarding the examination. However, carry-on rules are not found to be useful to students. Most students can't clear the first year in four attempts because failed students have to study two separate year syllabus in one year. Carry on system was not found useful in medical courses, that why Medical Council of India cancelled such rule in 2003", stated the press release signed by the president of NIMA Student Forum Nagpur, Dr. Shubham Bobade.
The association also stated that in Maharashtra, no students from Government Ayurved College found to be failed after four attempts. It should be noted that only students from private colleges are suffering." The question should be raised itself on NCISM about providing quality education in Ayurved private institute. The permission regarding admission to private institutes is granted by NCISM", added the association.
NIMA Student Forum Nagpur is demanding that authorities should scrap new amendments and restore old rules of examination for the last two years so that future of these future doctors can be saved. The request letter to Hon. Governor, Maharashtra, and Chairperson, National Commission for Indian Medicine (NCISM) were already sent on 9, September 2021.
Talking to Medical Dialogues, Dr Shubham stated, "It is not right to expel the students if they fail to pass the course within the stipulated time. Before 2016 also students passed the course and successfully became BAMS practitioners why the sudden change now? Our seniors did not have to face any cap on the number of attempts or the carry-on exam system yet they have earned a reputation as successful doctors. The 2016 amendments are uncalled for. Moreover, no such rules are applied for MBBS or BDS courses. This is a clear discrimination and we oppose it. "
" A case on the matter is already going on in the High Court and I hope the matter can be resolved soon", added the doctor.
Previously Medical Dialogues reported that in a similar move, few students belonging to the Gujarat Ayurved University moved to the Gujarat High Court questioning the Central Government rules that put a cap on the maximum number of attempts to clear the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (B.A.M.S.) examination.
In their plea before the two-judge bench of HC, the 18 students had also pointed out the discrimination against the BAMS students as for other students pursuing any other medical course like MBBS or BDS, there were no such rules or restrictions regarding the maximum number of attempts at the examination.
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