Recent NEET-UG paper leak demoralising students: Shylla
SHILLONG, May 19: Meghalaya Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla on Tuesday termed the recent NEET-UG paper leak incident as “very unfortunate” and said the Centre must introduce strict measures to restore the trust of students and parents across the country. Responding to queries on how the incident had affected Meghalaya, Shylla said the issue was not confined to one state alone but had impacted students nationwide who had appeared for the examination. He said the alleged leak had deeply affected the morale of students and parents, especially those preparing for medical careers. The health minister noted that similar incidents had occurred in the past and stressed that the central government, particularly the National Testing Agency (NTA), must ensure such lapses do not recur. Shylla said Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had recently indicated that strict action would be taken in future against those responsible for such irregularities. The health minister said the Centre now needed to bring in stronger laws and mechanisms to regain public confidence in the examination system. Addressing students aspiring to pursue MBBS and medical education, Shylla urged them not to lose hope or feel discouraged due to the controversy. He said the rescheduled examination would provide candidates with another opportunity and encouraged them to remain motivated and continue working hard for their future. He also said swift action had been taken following the controversy and, according to available information, the fresh examination date had been fixed for June 21. However, Shylla said he did not have the exact number of Meghalaya students affected by the issue, though he acknowledged that many candidates from the state had appeared for the examination.
Organisation clarifies study findings on student anxiety
SHILLONG, May 19: The Mental Health Foundation has clarified that recent media reports suggesting “90% of Meghalaya students face high anxiety” do not accurately represent the findings of its MATE Meghalaya research assessments. In a statement issued Tuesday, the Foundation explained that the 90% figure referred only to one specific cohort within the study sample. In that group, participants scored above the normative range on a specific anxiety indicator before receiving intervention. It stressed that these findings should not be interpreted to mean that 90% of all students in the state suffer from clinical or severe anxiety. The MATE Meghalaya assessments were conducted across selected schools to evaluate stress, resilience, and emotional well-being among adolescents. The Foundation noted that elevated stress tendencies in these groups are consistent with global trends for adolescence, a developmental stage marked by significant emotional, neurological, and academic changes. The organisation stated the assessments were designed to identify emotional needs and strengthen preventive mental health support rather than “pathologise” young people. The Foundation reiterated its commitment to evidence-based approaches and urged responsible reporting and public dialogue on youth mental health issues in the state.
