Combined entry test sees no light

Those seeking admission to Bangladesh’s public universities may have to wait a while since a common entry test is not being held this year. The government had announced the holding of such tests from this year but the Education Ministry and the University Grant Commission (UGC) have not taken the necessary steps. Instead, they blamed the ‘big’ universities for stalling the introduction of a system having a common set of questions for those trying to get into public universities across the country. The universities function independently and cannot be forced to adapt to the proposed system, says the ministry. But the association of public university vice-chancellors – Bangladesh Biswabidyalaya Parisad – fear a repetition of protests like the ones by locals after Shahjalal and Jessore University of Science and Technology opted for combined tests last year. The results of this year’s Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) examination, in which 1,141,374 candidates appeared, are due next month. Universities have already announced their individual schedules for admission tests. Public and private medical and dental colleges have been holding a single test to admit students since 2011, according to bdnews24.com.