Ritika, a student of Sarvodya Kanya Vidyalaya, Molarband has become an inspiration for many students who aspire to pursue a medical career but cannot afford the expensive coaching for entrances. The resident of Delhi cleared the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) 2021 without any private coaching classes but only through self-study from Youtube lectures and the materials available online.
She scored 500 marks and secured a rank of 3,032, under the Scheduled Caste category. Living in Badarpur in a two-room house with her parents and two younger brothers, they even lacked a mobile phone and internet connection initially, which was the only mode of education during the lockdown when schools closed. Her father was employed in a private factory and used to do embroidery, but had lost his job due to the layoffs in the Covid19 lockdown.
She says “I could not afford private coaching, so I cleared the exams by self-preparation using classes from YouTube and books. My principal and teachers helped and motivated me a lot and provided access to the school library.” She further adds, “We struggled for a meal and survived using the savings. But seeing my passion and good score (93%) in Class XII, my parents sold whatever jewelry my mother had saved for my wedding to buy me an android phone and book.” She also says of how her teachers and principal from school had helped and motivated her throughout the preparations and even provided access to the library.
Sujata Tamata, Principal of SKV, Molarband speaks, “Fifteen students from my schools have qualified for NEET. Last year, 42 students had cracked the exam but this year, due to Covid-19, we could not get in touch with many students as the classes were online and many migrated. Despite that, we called many students and also former students to guide and motivate other students. Teachers were always in touch with the children for both offline and online doubt-clearance and guidance.” A total of 436 students from Delhi schools cleared NEET this year.