Why is the NExT Exam Being Postponed?

Hello future doctors. The craze about the NExT exam is very evident. The NEET PG VS NExT debate is very familiar to every medico today. NExt is an exam proposed to make the lives of med students easier. Then why is it facing so much resistance? And why is the core of the resistance made up of medical students, who are apparently refusing an advantage?

Let’s talk about it in detail and understand the loopholes in the implementation of the exam.

Infrastructure and Logistics:

We’re talking about a computer based exam here. 3 days, 6 sessions for NExT 1. This obviously needs a lot of logistical work to be done. There must be exam centers, and the faculty at the exam centers must be equipped with the training to conduct the exam. Along with this, making sure that the process goes smoothly all across the country is also a major task.

All in all, setting all of this up and ensuring fairness in the process will take time. The logistics are no joke, especially when we talk about a medical licensing exam. It has to be foolproof and smooth. The majority of the delay can be attributed to this gap in implementation that has yet to be filled.

Curriculum Alignment:

Indian medical colleges do not teach in alignment with the NExT pattern. The curriculum is way too different. Not a lot of it is application based, it still pertains to the University exam requirements and the NEET PG requirements. 

This calls for realignment of the curriculum so that students can be prepared for NExT from the time they enter college. This involves lots of changes in teaching methods, and exam techniques. These changes will also take time to come into effect.

Pandemic-Related Delays:

The COVID -19 pandemic has surely led to a lot of disruptions in the normal educational flow. The batches are all over the place. Some colleges see an extra batch due to delay in admissions and passing out during the 2019-2020 years. 

Many institutions also faced delays in academic schedules, internships, and exams. There is a lot of adjustment yet to happen to ensure that the normal order of the college can be regained. On top of that, implementing a new exam can make the already complex flow, even more complex.

Feedback from Stakeholders:

Various medical bodies have raised concerns regarding the implementation of NExT. There are also minor issues about the pattern and execution of NExT that are yet to be addressed. 

Such feedback has made re-evaluations necessary. This further contributes to the delays in the exam implementation. 

Resistance by Students:

These were the concerns pointed out by the authorities and are being addressed by the NMC. Meanwhile, some worries have also popped up among the students. There is a divide with some students endorsing the exam and others condemning it. The ones against the exam have the following concerns:

Anxiety Among Students:

The students who are currently a part of the system think that the exam will affect their future negatively. They are unsure about the transition period where both NEET PG and NExT will exist simultaneously for a while. 

The NExT exam is unlike any other medical exam in India. Students are also anxious about the new pattern and the new testing criteria. They feel the uncertainty of attempting an entirely new exam without any previous data to guide them. 

Also, they feel that the intimation of an exam shift must be communicated in the very first year of education. This would ensure that students prepare accordingly from the start.

These are the major reasons for stress among the students.

Concerns Over Fairness and Implementation:

There are also concerns about whether NExT can be implemented fairly across all medical colleges in India. Students pointed out that disparities in resources and teaching quality among institutions will lead to unequal preparation. 

This could further lead to poor performance of students from certain colleges, while students from other colleges perform better. The questions on the fairness of the exam have been raised.

Impact on Internship and Licensing:

One major change with NExT is that students must pass this exam to start their internship and obtain their license to practice. Before this, students could begin their internship right after their final year exams. 

The added requirement of passing NExT before starting an internship has met with resistance. Students claim that it will delay their practical training and entry into the profession​.

Frequency of the Exam:

Unlike NEET-PG, which is conducted twice a year, NExT is proposed to be an annual exam. 

This means that if a student fails to clear the exam, they would be losing out on an entire year. An annual exam has higher stakes than a biannual exam. This has led to added pressure and stress, with pleas from students to conduct it twice a year.

Conclusion

The postponement of the NExT exam to the 2023 batch is due to a combination of a lot of issues. The resistance primarily stems from worries about fairness, the impact on student stress and anxiety, and the changes needed in the current system.

The NExT exam will definitely be a beneficial exam for society and med students. But, it’s successful implementation needs hasty solution to all these concerns