The University Grants Commission (UGC) is continuing its efforts to woo public universities that have not yet agreed to hold a combined admission test from the next academic session, to free students from hassles and sufferings. UGC sources said most of the private universities have agreed to hold a combined admission test from the 2020–21 academic year, but some do not want to follow the process due to various reasons.
Among the universities that have not yet shown the green light are - Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University, Chittagong University, Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET), Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET), and Chattogram University of Engineering and Technology (CUET).
The UGC held a meeting with the authorities of BUET on February 3 to get their nod to hold the admission test at the entry level under the combined system. However, the meeting could not reach any conclusion, according to sources.
BUET said the system is good, but expressed reservations as it is concerned about security and the standard of questions.
At the meeting, the UGC told BUET to point out the technical problems so that those can be resolved to move forward. With this, the meeting ended without any final decision.
The UGC hopes to hold another meeting soon.
UGC sources said now they would discuss the matter with the authorities of DUET, CUET, RUET, and KUET to get their consent. The meeting would be held on February 10.
The UGC said the pattern of holding admission test for engineering universities was almost the same. So, the commission wants to get their opinion also.
After holding the meeting on February
10, the UGC would tell these engineering universities to discuss with the BUET authorities the nitty-gritty of holding a combined admission test.
In addition, the UGC would hold talks with some 13 public universities that still have not given the final nod to hold the admission test
in a uniform way. The meeting would be held on February 12, UGC sources said.
On the other hand, Dhaka University also has not reached the decision to hold a combined admission test.
During the last meeting of all the public universities with the UGC on January 23, most of the vice-chancellors agreed to hold a combined admission test. However, some said they would have to discuss the matter with other bodies of their universities.
Sources said Dhaka University (DU), Jahangirnagar University (JU), Rajshahi University (RU), and Chattogram University (CU) did not give their nod at the meeting.
Sources said JU, RU, and CU would agree if Dhaka University gave its consent.
UGC sources said they would discuss the matter with DU, JU, RU, and CU before moving ahead.
The UGC said it would begin the combined admission test as most of the universities have agreed. Besides, the commission said the agriculture universities had already held the clustered admission test this year.
UGC member Mohammad Alamgir said, “The holding of a combined admission test is now the demand of the time. The president himself has said this to the vice-chancellors of universities several times, but it still has not been done.”
“Most of the universities have shown the green light. Right now, we are holding talks with the universities that have some reservations. We have already held a meeting with BUET. We will have talks with other engineering universities like DU, JU, RU and CU soon. We would listen to them before moving ahead,” he added.
The UGC has been trying to convince the public universities to hold a combined admission test for several years now. Various committees have been formed and meetings held, but these have not been successful.
Finally, the seven agriculture universities held the admission test in a clustered way in November last year.
With a breakthrough in the agriculture universities, the UGC is now urging the universities to start the combined admission test from the next academic session.
The matter of holding a combined admission test had also come up at a meeting between the UGC and the Consumers’ Association of Bangladesh (CAB) on February 3.
CAB President Golam Rahman welcomed the move and said CAB would provide all assistance to the UGC in this regard.
At the meeting, UGC Chairman Kazi Shahidullah,said, “The clustered admission test in agriculture universities is a breakthrough. Now, we are getting positive response for the combined admission test. We are seeking the cooperation of all.”
He further said, “We are determined to hold a combined admission test. If any university does not comply with it, we will move ahead.”
UGC member Prof Dil Afroz Begum told The Independent, “We are working on the combined admission test. A guideline has already been prepared. We are moving ahead based on it. We hope everybody would come under this umbrella for the greater interest of students.”