central admission test

Students to suffer as 5 top varsities oppose

The inconvenience faced by tens of thousands of students is likely to continue as five big public universities where applicants vie for admission have not yet joined the central admission test (CAT) system. As per the University Grants Commission (UGC), the number of public universities is 46 in the country. But students and guardians mainly target traditionally the five big universities, including Dhaka University (DU) and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). So, they have to move from one place to another to sit for admission tests in these universities.

Evidently, the UGC has failed to persuade these universities to join the CAT system despite repeated attempts over several years.

The attempt to hold a combined admission test was mainly thwarted by the various reservations at the five public universities, even though several committees have been formed to resolve the issues.

According to the UGC, all universities, except the big five, were always ready to go for the CAT. But the system could not be introduced because the five universities were reluctant to join in.

UGC sources said the five public universities still holding out were DU, BUET, Jahangirnagar University (JU), Rajshahi University (RU), and Chattagram University (CU).

The authorities of the five universities told the UGC that they were unable to join because they had not yet received approval from their academic councils.

They had given this excuse earlier as well.

 However, on February 12, the UGC finally decided to move forward with those public universities that had agreed to hold the CAT for the academic session 2019–20 to reduce the inconvenience faced by students and guardians.

 But students opting for admission to the big five universities would have to go through the old grind.

 The first choice of students for admission to honours degrees is the big five universities. The resources of these universities—including teachers, lab facilities, libraries, and spacious environments—and their reputations are the main attractions for students and their guardians.

 Data shows that the number of applications submitted to the five universities is huge compared to the other universities.

 DU sources said that a total of 276,522 admission seekers registered against 7,118 seats in four units of the admission tests for the academic session 2019–2020. The figure was 272,512 against 7,128 seats in the 2018–19 academic session .

 A total of 359,962 students vied for 1,889 seats under the six faculties and three institutes of JU in the 2019–20 academic session, breaking all previous records. In the 2018–19 session, the figure was 306,274 against 1,889 seats.

 

More than 1.37 lakh students participated in the RU admission test in the 2019–20 academic session held in October 2019. The number of aspirants in the 2018–19 academic session was 2.85 lakh for first-year honours courses.

 As for CU, 166,870 students appeared for the admission test in the academic year 2019–20, while the number of aspirants was 136,247 against 4,926 seats under four units in the 2018–19 session.

 In case of BUET, the authorities allowed a total of 12,161 candidates to take the admission test against 1,060 seats in the academic session 2019–20 for the civil, mechanical, electrical and electronics engineering, and architecture and urban planning departments. This figure was 12,138 in the 2018–19 academic session.

 In Islamic University, a total of 61,992 students applied to take the admission test against 2,305 seats for the 2019–20 session.

 In the admission tests for the 2019–20 academic session of the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), 71,018 students vied for 1,703 seats.

 For the 2019–20 academic session  of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), a total of 12,348 candidates vied for 1,065 seats in 16 departments.

 For the 2019–20 academic session of Comilla University, a total of 68,077 applicants applied against 1,040 seats.

 The above figures clearly show the students’ preferences for the big universities compared to the other universities.

 The UGC said they had been trying to get the consent of the old universities to join the CAT system. Since they have not yet agreed to do so, the UGC has decided to go ahead with the other universities.

 UGC member Muhammed Alamgir told The Independent on Thursday: “We have tried our best to get the consent of the five universities. They did not decline but said they need the approval of their academic councils.”

  “We hope they will join the others at the end of this month. If they don’t, we have to go ahead with the CAT. We will form a committee and a sub-committee to work out the process,” he said.

 He also said President Md Abdul Hamid had himself directed the vice-chancellors to start the process several years ago.

 When the President, who is also the chancellor of the universities, gives any directive, it becomes obligatory for the universities to comply with it. But despite the chancellor’s repeated directives on holding a combined admission test, the five big universities have not given the

green signal, said another UGC member Dil Afroza Begum.

 “We will go ahead with the others as it would reduce the students’ suffering. That is a priority for us,” she added.

 

central admission test

Students to suffer as 5 top varsities oppose

The inconvenience faced by tens of thousands of students is likely to continue as five big public universities where applicants vie for admission have not yet joined the central admission test (CAT) system. As per the University Grants Commission (UGC), the number of public universities is 46 in the country. But students and guardians mainly target traditionally the five big universities, including Dhaka University (DU) and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). So, they have to move from one place to another to sit for admission tests in these universities. Evidently, the UGC has failed to persuade these universities to join the CAT system despite repeated attempts over several years. The attempt to hold a combined admission test was mainly thwarted by the various reservations at the five public universities, even though several committees have been formed to resolve the issues. According to the UGC, all universities, except the big five, were always ready to go for the CAT. But the system could not be introduced because the five universities were reluctant to join in. UGC sources said the five public universities still holding out were DU, BUET, Jahangirnagar University (JU), Rajshahi University (RU), and Chattagram University (CU). The authorities of the five universities told the UGC that they were unable to join because they had not yet received approval from their academic councils. They had given this excuse earlier as well. However, on February 12, the UGC finally decided to move forward with those public universities that had agreed to hold the CAT for the academic session 201920 to reduce the inconvenience faced by students and guardians. But students opting for admission to the big five universities would have to go through the old grind. The first choice of students for admission to honours degrees is the big five universities. The resources of these universitiesincluding teachers, lab facilities, libraries, and spacious environmentsand their reputations are the main attractions for students and their guardians. Data shows that the number of applications submitted to the five universities is huge compared to the other universities. DU sources said that a total of 276,522 admission seekers registered against 7,118 seats in four units of the admission tests for the academic session 20192020. The figure was 272,512 against 7,128 seats in the 201819 academic session . A total of 359,962 students vied for 1,889 seats under the six faculties and three institutes of JU in the 201920 academic session, breaking all previous records. In the 201819 session, the figure was 306,274 against 1,889 seats. More than 1.37 lakh students participated in the RU admission test in the 201920 academic session held in October 2019. The number of aspirants in the 201819 academic session was 2.85 lakh for first-year honours courses. As for CU, 166,870 students appeared for the admission test in the academic year 201920, while the number of aspirants was 136,247 against 4,926 seats under four units in the 201819 session. In case of BUET, the authorities allowed a total of 12,161 candidates to take the admission test against 1,060 seats in the academic session 201920 for the civil, mechanical, electrical and electronics engineering, and architecture and urban planning departments. This figure was 12,138 in the 201819 academic session. In Islamic University, a total of 61,992 students applied to take the admission test against 2,305 seats for the 201920 session. In the admission tests for the 201920 academic session of the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), 71,018 students vied for 1,703 seats. For the 201920 academic session of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), a total of 12,348 candidates vied for 1,065 seats in 16 departments. For the 201920 academic session of Comilla University, a total of 68,077 applicants applied against 1,040 seats. The above figures clearly show the students preferences for the big universities compared to the other universities. The UGC said they had been trying to get the consent of the old universities to join the CAT system. Since they have not yet agreed to do so, the UGC has decided to go ahead with the other universities. UGC member Muhammed Alamgir told The Independent on Thursday: We have tried our best to get the consent of the five universities. They did not decline but said they need the approval of their academic councils. We hope they will join the others at the end of this month. If they dont, we have to go ahead with the CAT. We will form a committee and a sub-committee to work out the process, he said. He also said President Md Abdul Hamid had himself directed the vice-chancellors to start the process several years ago. When the President, who is also the chancellor of the universities, gives any directive, it becomes obligatory for the universities to comply with it. But despite the chancellors repeated directives on holding a combined admission test, the five big universities have not given the green signal, said another UGC member Dil Afroza Begum. We will go ahead with the others as it would reduce the students suffering. That is a priority for us, she added.