Team Blitz India
Indian parents in the UAE were a relieved lot as the National Testing Agency (NTA) of India announced the inclusion of several foreign centres for its medical exam, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah.
In a tweet on February 20, the NTA revealed that the National Eligibilitycum-Entrance Test for Undergraduates (NEET-UG) 2024 would take place in 14 international centres, according to a report in the Khaleej Times.
The NTA wrote, “In continuation of the public notice dated February 9, 2024, it has been decided that the exam will be conducted in foreign cities.” Testing centres in other cities worldwide will include Lagos, Singapore and Bangkok.
Most parents reacted with relief and joy. “I have no words to express my happiness,” said Sherin Shafeeq, whose daughter has been preparing for the exam for over two years. “I have been praying fervently for a resolution of the issue since the first notice came out.”
Sherin said she was hopeful and was yet to fill out the form for a centre in India. “My daughter’s coaching centre had asked us to hold off filling in the application form until as late as possible to see if there was any chance of foreign centres to be announced,” she said. “I am truly grateful to everyone who took the initiative to get the international centres for the NEET exams.”
Last week, the Khaleej Times reported that no foreign centres were listed in the initial document released by NTA. Speaking to KT, parents voiced their concern about removing centres, saying how it severely affected their plans.
Many parents feared that travelling to India for the test might impact their children’s performance, and accompanying guardians would have to take time off work, manage other kids staying back in the UAE, and expensive air tickets might add to their monthly budget.
