23 girls of government school in Delhi’s Okhla crack NEET

: Ariba Naeem had a difficult time these last few months. Alongside her duties at home, she also had to find time to prepare both for her Class 12 exams and for NEET, the medical studies entrance test. She was naturally unsure of success. But Naeem need not have worried. She was one of the 23 students of Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, Noor Nagar, Okhla, who are now eligible to seek admission to a medical college.

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The 17-year-old girl, while elated with the unexpected success, said she would write the exam again next year to improve her scores. “As a student of a government school, I did not have many facilities. I tried to study as much I could as I also had domestic chores every day,” Naeem said. “At times, the lockdown made things difficult, but I managed things, while also teaching my two younger brothers.”

NEET feat: Okhla school teachers in for a surprise too


The electrician’s daughter who lives in Abul Fazal Enclave attributed much of her success to her school and her teachers, who “motivated and guided us throughput”.

As many as 569 students of government schools in Delhi cracked NEET, 379 of them girls. Among the schools, the Noor Nagar institution stood out with its good tally of 23 successes.

According to vice-principal Mudassir Jahan, “We were sure that 15 students or so would clear the tests. The higher number was a surprise.”

Jahan said that most of the achievers belonged to lower-middle-class homes. “We tried to provide the students moral support, especially during the Covid period,” she said. “Such was the system we set up that our teachers were in touch with the students even during the lockdown, providing academic help and counsel. We held regular Zoom sessions in which he interacted with both the students and their parents.”

The idea behind this, Jahan said, was to make students confident and comfortable in sharing their worries and problems. “We employed Delhi government’s suggestions and focused on the mental health of our students,” said the vice-principal, who added that till last year, just around a couple of her students cleared NEET.

The pandemic restrictions were not easy for the successful students. “We could not attend our coaching classes. Neither did we have access to books and study materials,” said Infa Shekeel. “It was the support of the teachers that pulled us through.”

Sumaiyya Parween had a bittersweet experience. She cleared the medical entrance exam but did not manage the score she was hoping for. She was, however, happy for her brother who too cleared the exam and with a better score. “My brother and I studied together throughout the many weeks. But while he scored well, my score isn’t enough to get me entry into a government medical college. My family cannot afford a private college,” she said. “However, this doesn’t matter much because I am determined to write the exam next year and get higher scores.”