The University Grants Commission (UGC) has formulated a draft guideline to arrange a uniform entry test for the academic year 2023-2024 with all the public universities across the country.
After implementing the uniform entry test from next year, the university apex body also plans to enroll new students in both public and private universities under the National Testing Authority (NTA).
The plan will be implemented within two years to ease the sufferings and financial burden of students and their guardians, sources said.
A draft guideline is set to be placed at Thursday's meeting at the UGC.
Earlier this year, former President Abdul Hamid gave his consent to arrange national admission tests instead of the ongoing multiple admission tests.
Later, the Ministry of Education issued a gazette on uniform admission tests for all public universities and formed a committee of 15 members, led by the UGC chairman, to take the necessary initiatives to bring all public universities under a uniform entrance examination from the upcoming academic year.
Entry test procedure
Talking with Dhaka Tribune, members of the committee gave hints about the methods of International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) or medical admission test, as examples.
Prof Imdadul Haque, the joint convener of the Cluster Admission Test Coordination Committee and vice-chancellor of Jagannath University (JU), said: “We have the experience of arranging cluster admissions three times by dividing the examination into science, humanities and commerce. We can use the experience, the exam can be taken in three-four units.”
However, several members shared some methods about uniform university entry tests.
They said that the tests for the applicants from science, humanities and business departments can be held separately.
Moreover, universities have different faculties, including arts, science, agriculture, engineering, social sciences, law. etc. Following them, the test can be divided into four units or two or more units.
In that case, they think that there will be no problem if instructions are given for candidates about the application process.
Will five universities agree to the uniform test?
Five public universities - Dhaka University (DU), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), Rajshahi University(RU), Jahangirnagar University (JU), and University of Chittagong (CU) – are yet to participate in the cluster admission test.
UGC thinks that a Presidential Ordinance would be required to conduct the uniform entrance test. If this ordinance is issued once, no one will be able to raise any objection and all the universities will be bound to appear under the test.
UGC secretary Dr Ferdous Zaman said these universities, with the exception of Buet, are operated under the 1973 Ordinance and hold independent admission tests.
In terms of enrolling new students, the ordinance states: “Each department will enroll students under its own management”.
The universities have not participated in the cluster admission system using this section of the ordinance, said the UGC secretary.
He hopes that all universities will participate without any reservations after publishing the presidential ordinance.
The vice-chancellors of the five universities are also members of the uniform test formulation committee.
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, citing the president's directive and the Ministry of Education's notification, they gave positive words on the uniform test.
Dhaka University Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) ASM Maksud Kamal, who will take over as the vice-chancellor of the university on November 4, said Dhaka University always conducts admission tests as per the rules.
If any ordinance is issued, that will be maintained in accordance with the opinion of the academic council, he said.
UGC Chairman (additional charge) Prof Muhammad Alamgir Told Dhaka Tribune: “It has been decided to send recommendations to the president for promulgation of the Ordinance.”
The final decision will be taken after the detailed discussion in the meeting on October 26.
Prof Muhammad Alamgir thinks that, sooner or later, all the universities will have to participate in the uniform entry test