Combined entry test sees no light

Those seeking admission to Bangladesh’s public universities may have to wait a while since a common entry test is not being held this year.

Shahidul Islambdnews24.com
Published : 22 July 2014, 04:48 AM
Updated : 22 July 2014, 06:54 AM

The government had announced the holding of such tests from this year but the Education Ministry and the University Grant Commission (UGC) have not taken the necessary steps.

Instead, they blamed the ‘big’ universities for stalling the introduction of a system having a common set of questions for those trying to get into public universities across the country.

The universities function independently and cannot be forced to adapt to the proposed system, says the ministry.

But the association of public university vice-chancellors – Bangladesh Biswabidyalaya Parisad – fear a repetition of protests like the ones by locals after Shahjalal and Jessore University of Science and Technology opted for combined tests last year.

The results of this year’s Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) examination, in which by 1,141,374 candidates appeared, are due next month.

Universities have already announced their individual schedules for admission tests.
Public and private medical and dental colleges have been holding a single test to admit students since 2011.
The decision to start combined entry tests from the academic year 2014-15 was taken in a meeting of vice-chancellors last year to reduce problems faced by those seeking admission, as they have to travel to 36 public universities in various parts of the country to take the entry tests.
“We’ll provide all the necessary support once public universities begin the initiative,” Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid told bdnews24.com.
Some universities are spurning the idea despite its merits, said UGC Chairman AK Azad Chowdhury.
“They are independent; so’ we can’t force them to adopt it.”