While 1,962 students from the district had enrolled to train in coaching centres for the NEET medical entrance exam, on May 6 this year, only 396 Class XII students have registered for it. This figure accounts for a meagre 20.18 per cent of the total number of students who were coached in 14 government centres across the district. Officials in the education department pointed out that students were provided with top training facilities but most of them feared the examination and shied away from registering for it.

In 2017, the Tamil Nadu government announced that it would open 412 NEET coaching centres across the State. Most of them functioned well, with an amount of  Rs 2 lakh getting spent on each of these centres. The 14 coaching centres were located in both rural and urban areas of the district. Officials added that the coaching classes were held on weekends and in batches starting from morning till evening. Students attending classes had also been given snacks.

On questions concerning the resources provided to the centres, sources said the State government had tied up with SPEED Medical Institute, a private coaching centre. The last dates to apply for the test and to make corrections on applications have expired.