Students seeking admission to Dhaka University (DU) strongly protested Friday against the decision of not allowing aspirants to sit for admission test a second time from the next academic year.
Nearly 300 agitated students gathered in front of the university's Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) at about 10:00 am on the day and chanted slogans protesting the decision. They termed it 'unethical' and 'unrealistic'.
They accepted the decision of discontinuing the facility, but not from the academic year 2015-16. They said they would be deprived if the decision is implemented from the next academic year.
After a two-hour agitation, the protestors announced a similar agitation programme at the same venue at 11:00 am Sunday next, unless the university authorities reconsider their decision.
In previous years students had the scope to appear in university admission test for a second time and the results showed that a good number of them came out successful taking part in the second time admission test.
A student participating in the protest told the FE that because of inadequate preparation, he did not appear in the admission test as he had a scope of appearing for the second time.
"Even, I didn't apply for admission to other universities as I had another chance of taking part in the DU admission test next year," Rasel, a frustrated student, said requesting the university authorities to reconsider their decision.
Sumaiya, another HSC-passed student, said she just appeared in the test as she had very poor preparation for the admission test. She also termed the new decision of the DU as 'unrealistic'.
She called upon the DU authorities to implement the fresh decision from the academic year 2016-2017, instead of 2015-2016, as it will deprive many students of admission.
Meanwhile, DU Vice Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique said a second chance for admission test creates discrimination among the students as some of them get one year more time for preparation.
Apart from this, a good number of admitted students migrate from their departments leaving some seats permanently vacant at their respective departments, he added.
The DU VC also said the new decision would help put an end to the growing coaching business in the country as they will not get time to do so.
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