•NMC ne MBBS completion limit 9 saal se badha kar 10 saal karne ka proposal rakha hai; experts ka kehna hai ki counselling aur support hi zyada important hain, timelines nahi.
•First Professional examination sabse badi rukaavat hai—agar ek subject bhi clear nahi hota, toh student agle year mein nahi ja sakta.
•NMC sirf four attempts deta hai First Prof clear karne ke liye, jisse students ko lagbhag do saal milte hain; 10 saal ka extension is rule ko change nahi karta.
•Students struggle karte hain kyunki unka interest nahi hai, parental pressure hai, financial hardship hai, family crises hain, ya mental health issues hain.
•Dr. M. M. A. Faridi early counselling, mentoring, aur institutional support ki advocate karte hain taaki struggling students ki help ki ja sake before academic problems irreversible ho jate hain.
National Medical Commission (NMC) ne medical colleges mein ek naya debate shuru kar diya hai. Unhone propose kiya hai ki MBBS course complete karne ki maximum duration 9 saal se badha kar 10 saal kar di jaye. Yeh change chota lagta hai, lekin isne medical aspirants ke samne aane wale challenges, academic pressure, aur institutional support systems par ek badi bahas chalu kar di hai.
Senior medical educator Dr. M. M. A. Faridi, jo ek distinguished pediatrician aur neonatologist hain aur decades se medical field mein hain, ka kehna hai ki focus time limits se hata kar yeh dekhna chahiye ki students kyun struggle kar rahe hain aur institutions unki kaise help kar rahe hain. Dr. Faridi ne UCMS, Delhi University aur GTB Hospital mein Pediatrics ke Professor aur Head ke roop mein kaam kiya hai. Unhone baad mein Era’s Lucknow Medical College mein Principal aur Dean ki bhi zimmadari sambhali hai.
Dr. Faridi ka kehna hai ki 9 aur 10 saal ka difference medical education ki demanding nature ke saamne chota hi hai. “Zyada important sawal yeh hai ki kyun kuch students progress nahi kar pa rahe hain aur institutions unki support kaise kar rahi hain,” unhone TOI Education ko bataya. Unka yeh perspective unke saal ke experience par based hai, jisme unhone dekha hai ki students kaise India ke sabse rigorous professional courses ko navigate karte hain.
MBBS curriculum ke core mein hain four professional examinations, jinhe “Profs” bhi kaha jata hai. Har Prof broadly academic year ke saath aligned hai, lekin First Professional examination sabse critical checkpoint hai. Dr. Faridi ke hisaab se, agar koi student ek subject bhi clear nahi kar paata, toh uska next year mein move karna band ho jata hai. “Agar ek subject bhi clear nahi hota, toh student agle year mein nahi ja sakta jab tak sab subjects clear nahi ho jate,” unhone samjhaya. Yeh rigidity First Prof ko MBBS journey ka sabse important moment bana deti hai.
NMC ka ek aur regulation hai jo First Professional examination clear karne ke liye sirf four attempts deta hai. Practically, iska matlab hai ki students ko apne pehle bade academic hurdle ko clear karne ke liye lagbhag do saal milte hain. “Agar koi student First Professional examination four attempts mein clear nahi kar paata, toh uska course jari rakhna possible nahi hota,” Dr. Faridi ne kaha. Important baat yeh hai ki proposed 10 saal ka extension is four-attempt rule ko change nahi karta, isse yeh clear ho jata hai ki timelines ki debate se zyada important yeh hai ki students ke struggles ke root causes ko samjha jaye.
Dr. Faridi ne yeh bhi point kiya ki bahut se students NEET clear karne ke baad MBBS mein enter karte hain parental expectations ki wajah se, apne interest ki wajah se nahi. Kuch students admission ke baad realize karte hain ki unka interest music, filmmaking, ya arts mein hai. Aur kuch students life-altering challenges face karte hain jaise parents ka loss, financial crises, family illness, ya mental health issues. Yehi challenges unke academic performance aur schedule ko affect karte hain. “Agar koi student serious personal crisis face kar raha hai, toh extra time kaafi help kar sakta hai,” unhone kaha. Unka yeh bhi kehna hai ki regulations ko exceptional circumstances ko consider karna chahiye bina educational standards ko compromise kiye.
Time extensions ke alawa, Dr. Faridi medical colleges mein counselling, mentoring, aur early intervention ki culture ko strengthen karne ki advocate karte hain. Unka kehna hai ki institutions ko struggling students ko promptly identify karna chahiye aur unhe tailored support provide karna chahiye—chahe wo academic ho, psychological, financial, ya emotional. “Students ko guidance, mentoring, aur counselling ki zaroorat hai,” unhone emphasize kiya. NEP 2020 ke principles se inspired ho kar, wo colleges, students, aur parents ke beech regular communication ki importance batate hain taaki warning signs ko pehle hi detect kiya ja sake.
Dr. Faridi ka yeh sab experience unke distinguished career par based hai, jisme unhone clinical practice, medical education, aur national health policy mein contribution diya hai. Unhone Neonatology mein University of Illinois, Chicago se training li hai aur WHO, UNICEF, aur USAID ke initiatives mein bhi contribute kiya hai. Unhone government deputations mein bhi kaam kiya hai, jaise BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Nepal. Unka experience yeh samjhata hai ki medical education sirf academic excellence tak hi limited nahi hai, balki iske peeche human challenges bhi hain.
Jab NMC apne draft amendment par public feedback seek kar raha hai, toh yeh debate timelines se aage badh rahi hai. Proposed ek saal ka extension kuch students ko relief de sakta hai jo genuine hardship face kar rahe hain, lekin experts jaise Dr. Faridi ka kehna hai ki real solution proactive counselling, robust support systems, aur medical students par aane wale diverse pressures ke liye empathy mein hai.
