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41 public univs to come under cluster system

Five universities still stick to previous decision


Published : 25 Oct 2020 09:25 PM

Amid concerns raging in students and guardians as well, country’s five prestigious public universities have decided to take separate admission test as per their previous schedules and rules while 41 others will go for the cluster system.

Dhaka University authorities have already decided to conduct faculty-based admission tests at the Dean’s meeting while other four- BUET, Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University and Chittagong University- are going to take the similar decision.

According to concerned sources, the university admission process will start from January 2021, after publishing the result of Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations by December this year.  

At the Deans’ meeting of Dhaka University on October 21, it was proposed to conduct the admission test directly by maintaining hygiene rules. 

To avoid the infection risk, the university authorities are also thinking to set up exam centers at the divisional cities. 

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman told Bangladesh Post, that “We have already decided to conduct faculty-based (separate) admission test at the Deans’ meeting. At the same time, we are thinking of alleviating the sufferings of students and parents during the admission test. Besides, to avoid the infection, our deans have proposed to take the test in the divisional city as well. However, admission committee will give the final decision.”

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) VC Professor Satya Prasad Majumder said, “Our selection process is different from others. Therefore, BUET will conduct separate admission test. The decision was taken last year. However, the decision on how the exam will be conducted will be announced after publishing the results of HSC examinations.”

About the admission test process, Chittagong University VC Prof Shirin Akhtar told The Bangladesh Post, “We will discuss it at the coming Deans’ committee meeting next Tuesday. The decision will be taken by the Academic Council.”

It is known that, Dhaka, Rajshahi, Jahangirnagar, and Chittagong Universities are run as per the 1973 Ordinance, which gives them full authority to enroll new students independently. On the other hand, BUET is also run according to special laws.

Thus, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has not been able to force these universities to conduct uniform or cluster system admission tests, the source said.

In this regard, UGC Member Prof Dr Muhammed Alamgir told The Bangladesh Post that “All public universities agreed to take admission tests under the cluster system except five universities. I think, if Dhaka University and BUET agree, it will be possible to take cluster system admission.”

He also said, “We cannot force them to come under the cluster system admission test. Only the Chancellor (The President) can order them. This year, we are hopeful that all universities will come under the uniform admission test for Covid-19 pandemic. Besides, the President also requested these universities to conduct cluster system admission test.”

Last year, the agricultural universities took the admission test in the cluster system.

After that, UGC took the initiative to conduct admission test from this year by dividing all the universities into four sections or clusters. 

At that time, some vice-chancellors proposed uniform admission test in science, humanities and business studies.

Later, at a meeting on March, the UGC announced four cluster admission tests including science and technology, agriculture, engineering and general universities. But, the five universities did not agree to come in any way.

Even at the UGC meeting on October 15, these five universities did not give any opinion about the process of admission test.