Dhaka University to follow current admission rules, not combined tests

The University Grants Commission’s move to have combined tests for student admission to the public universities has suffered another blow with the Dhaka University rejecting the proposal.

The university’s Academic Council decided to follow its current rules for admission in a meeting on Monday, Vice-Chancellor Md Akhtaruzzaman told the media.

The Academic Council or the Deans’ Committee will bring reforms  if necessary, he said, citing the university rules.

The council also formed a committee to decide the fate of the evening courses.

It has been given five weeks to submit a report. Admission to these courses will be suspended until then, Akhtaruzzaman said.   

Besides the Dhaka University, the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology or BUET, Rajshahi University, Chittagong University, among others, have been objecting to the UGC decision on the central system of admission tests. 

Under the current system, the candidates need to travel to all the universities up and down the country for admission after passing HSC exams. They also have to take preparations differently for the admission tests of different universities.

Many, including President Md Abdul Hamid and former education minister Nurul Islam Nahid, have spoken about abolishing the system. Nahid had initiated steps for combined tests once but could not succeed in the face of opposition from some quarters.

His successor Dipu Moni took measures last year to hold combined tests for university admission. She hoped it would be possible to introduce the new system this year.

The education minister argues that the combined tests will reduce the students’ sufferings and a waste of money. She says such tests will especially benefit the female candidates.

Akhtaruzzaman had said earlier this month he had sat with the former VCs, deans, national professors, professors emeritus, UGC professors and former UGC chairmen on the issue.

“They have categorically told me that the decision must be based on everyone’s opinion and come from the Academic Council,” he had said.

Later, on Feb 11, the UGC Chairman Kazi Shahidullah announced the decision to hold the uniform tests from the 2020-21 session after a meeting chaired by its Chairman at its office in Dhaka on Feb 12.

Vice-chancellors of 12 universities, including the Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University, Chittagong University, BUET, Bangladesh Agricultural University, and commission members attended the meeting.

But on Feb 20, BUET announced its decision to follow its existing rules for admission.

Rajshahi University’s announcement came earlier on Monday.   

Most of the teachers are not interested in going for the combined admission tests, Rajshahi University VC M Abdus Sobhan said.

“We have decided not to join the combined test system following the opinion of the majority,” the VC told the media after a meeting.   

He expressed his doubt about the success of the uniform entry tests system citing possibilities of question paper leaks.

The VC, however, denied a claim that they wanted to continue the current system because it brings a huge amount of money in admission test fees to the university.