Lofty price of public University admission form sorely thwart students to get higher education in public Universities, as there is no uniform instruction to limit entrance form’ price most of university in Bangladesh are charging a substantial of money at will for which seeming beyond from students afford. Prices of the forms range from Tk 450 to Tk 1,000, with some universities charging different amounts for admission forms of different units, said admission seekers and their guardians.
This year, about 9 lakh 88 thousands students passed the Higher Secondary Certificate exams and a large number of them will sit for admission tests at the country's 46 public universities. A good amount of money needs to be spent on preparations for university admission, and a major portion of it goes to purchase of forms. Besides, some universities raise the prices of forms almost every year, so many of students and guardians can’t afford purchase form for high cost, Guardians and admission seekers said Bangladesh Post.
Guardians and admission seeker also termed the practice as “unethical and unacceptable”. As the stiff competition for admission at public universities, most of the students think to purchase several form from different universities as they concerned about their chances of getting admitted to a public university. Tamanna Jannat Shima, an admission seeker said Bangladesh Post, “for stiff competition at public university entrance exam, I purchased some university form which has already cost TK 20,000; it’s tough to afford such huge amount for my family. Bangladesh is driving forward to inclusive developed country where such amount of money to enroll in University curbs in country’s intellect blooming,”
Monir Hosssain, father of an admission seeker in the capital, said he has already spent Tk 25,000 for his son's admission preparations that include buying admission forms of five universities. "It's a chaotic situation. And the regrettable thing is that there is none to address this issue," he said, referring to varied prices of admission forms. Moreover, The University Grants Commission (UGC) doesn't have any guidelines on setting prices of admission forms. After several attempt for contracting with UGC chairman, Prof Kazi Sahhidullah, He however was unavailable over Phone. It’s beyond from afford Several admission seekers told Bangladesh Post that they have to spend a substantial amount of money for buying admission forms as some universities have set high prices for those.
"Since university admission tests see stiff competition, buying forms for only one or two universities will be very unwise … I have bought admission forms of several universities. For that, I had to spend Tk 4, 500," said Abdur rahman a candidate. The price of an admission form of any unit at Dhaka University is Tk 450, which has enhanced as written evolution system introduced from this year.
The university conducts admission tests under five units for 80 departments and 11 institutes. Like Dhaka University, Chittagong University holds admission tests under 10 units for 43 departments and two institutes. Each form of the units costs Tk 550 without service charge. Rajshahi University conducts tests under nine units for 58 departments, but the prices of admission forms of the units are some 1320. There are eight units at the JU. The price of each admission form of five units is Tk 550, and that of three other units is Tk 350 each. The prices of admission forms of engineering universities are higher.
According to the UGC guidelines, the universities are supposed to deposit with the university funds 40 percent of the earnings from sales of admission forms, and spend the rest on conducting tests. Every year, public universities earn a huge amount of money from the sale of admission forms, and that's why they don't want to bring any change to the admission system
Students and admission seekers think such substantial amount of money isn’t available for them to purchase. Consequently in each year many of students deprived from higher education after failing to admit in several University which they was applied. Talking some admission seekers they said, Uniform admission system will reduce their hassle in enrolling at higher universities.
Notably, Education Ministry of Bangladesh Government planned to introduce cluster-wise admission system from next year but many of prestigious universities like University of Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chittagong and Jahangirnagar University want to continue with their traditional process as the system iis profitable for them.
Like Medical colleges uniform admission test, expert and students think the combined system of first year honours admission test will save the cost of fees, accommodation, transport and others.If the cluster system is introduced, the admission seekers will sit for an admission test once and will be enrolled at those universities based on the merit list prepared from a single test.
