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Uniform varsity admission test to ease sufferings


Published : 15 Nov 2019 11:09 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 05:30 AM

Thousands of public university admission seekers along with their guardians are continuing to face extreme sufferings for moving from city to city across the country. 

And such indiscriminate and nonstop travelling throughout the country is making students and their guardians more tired and frustrated.   

If the traditional system is abolished and the uniform or cluster system is introduced, the sufferings and pains will cease at once. 

When a university arranges the admission test, its campus, adjacent area and even the city where the university is situated turn into a human sea.

Currently, there are 45 public universities in the country. Most of the universities take at least four to five days to complete admission tests to different departments/ units’. Most of the admission seekers apply to at least 15 to 20 universities. During the admission period, they travel from one university to another, and one part to another part of the country for two to three months. 

As a result, the sufferings of admission-seekers, especially the females and their guardians go beyond description as the concerned university and its city do not have adequate places to accommodate them.

While this correspondent was visiting the country’s different public universities like in Dhaka, Chattorgram, Rajshahi, Jahangirnagar, Khulna, Sylhet, Kushtia and other places during the ongoing admission tests, found all campuses filled with admission seekers and their guardians.

On the other hand, the honours first year admission seekers become tired and frustrated due to travelling throughout the country.

And even many of them fall sick before taking part in the admission test. 

As a result, many students become too weak to take part in the admission test as they lose their physical and mental strength.

Talking to this correspondent, students and their guardians expressed their bitter experiences and untold sufferings, saying considering the issue seriously, combined admission system is urgently needed to be introduced.  

“If the cluster system is introduced, we could sit for an admission test once and will be enrolled at those universities based on the merit list prepared from a single test. The system will save the cost of fees, accommodation, transport and others. Besides, like me all students along with their guardians would not have to face such difficulties and sufferings,” Abir Prodhan, an admission seeker who passed HSC from Notre Dame College, said.  

Sheikh Mehbuba Moitree, who came to Chattogram University (CU) for the admission test said, “I have been traveling from one university to another during the last one month. I, along with my parents, have suffered a lot due to long journey and accommodation problem. If all university administrations decide to take uniform admission, we won’t have to face sufferings.”

At present, medical colleges and the national university have a uniform entrance examination.  

Besides, the University Grants Commission is going to hold a uniform admission test on November 30, also known as “cluster admission,” for enrollment in seven public universities, to reduce the hassle for admission seekers.

These universities are Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sylhet Agricultural University, Khulna Agricultural University, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, and Patuakhali Science and Technology University.

Most prestigious public universities are reluctant on the issue as they do not want to support the cluster system.

These universities like University of Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chattogram and Jahangirnagar universities want to continue with their traditional process. 

According to public university sources, as many teachers get involved in the whole admission process from holding the examinations to checking answer sheets, they earn huge amounts of money every year. 

If the traditional system is abolished, and uniform or the cluster system is introduced, the first year honours admission test will be controlled centrally.

Earlier, President M Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Education Minister called upon the vice chancellors of all public universities to introduce cluster-wise easy admission test system at universities to reduce the sufferings to the admission-seekers, especially the females and their guardians as well. 

As during the admission tests in different public universities, the students especially the females suffer a lot, the government on several occasions requested the public universities to find out a coordinated solution in this regard. 

Education Minister Dipu Moni has expressed hope that a unified admission system for all public universities will be introduced by 2020 to reduce the plight of the admission seekers and their guardians.

The minister said the process was on to start unified admission test system in all public universities.

When contacted Professor Dr. Kazi Shahidullah, Chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC)  said, all public universities will have to come forward in this regard.

“As the government is committed to introducing the combined system of admission test in all public universities, considering hassles faced by students and guardians during admission to public universities, I also want this system,” he told Bangladesh Post.   

He also said, “Some public universities, in particular agricultural universities, have agreed to introduce the combined system of admission test from this year.”