Every year a staggering number of students secure GPA 5 in both SSC and HSC examinations but as they sit for Dhaka University admission tests their performance falls flat on its faces.
Dhaka University's last five-year admission tests result show that majority of the students who had obtained the highest score of GPA (grade point average) 5 in their SSC and HSC exams have failed to obtain the minimum pass marks.
The trend is alarmingly increasing with the rise in the number of GPA 5 holders.
DU Professor Emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury said: “The number of GPA 5 achievers in SSC and HSC levels is increasing dramatically every year. But the performance of these students proved that quality of education is not improving.
DU holds admission tests in five units: “A” unit is meant for the students of science discipline, “B” unit for Humanities students and “C” for Commerce while students from every discipline can sit for the admission test for “D” (for some selected departments) and “Cha” (Fine Arts Faculty) units.
According to the DU central admission office, this year 2,85,878 students applied in the five units of the university. A total of 2,59, 649 students received their results while 26,229 either did not attend the exams or were declared disqualified.
Of the students who got their results a total of 75,964 were those who obtained GPA 5 in both SSC and HSC exams. Only 25,486 of them (33.55 %) got pass marks in the test. The rest 67.45 % student failed to sail through.
This failure percentage was 56.12% in 2013-14 academic session, 55% in 2012-13 academic session, 53% in 2011-12 academic session and 52 % in 2010-11 academic session.
One has to secure 40% mark in the 120-mark admission test.
Academics have said the failure of such a large number of students in the admission tests of the country’s top educational institution reflected the “poor quality” of education handed down to students in school and college levels.
The university’s Arts faculty Dean Professor Sodrul Amin told the Dhaka Tribune that the admission test was a process of filtering which allowed the university authorities to get the best students.
“But it is alarming that students who achieve good grades, even the highest in SSC and HSC, fail to attain the passing mark in the admission test,” said Sodrul Amin, who is also a coordinator of the admission test held under the Arts faculty.
On the other hand, on an average more than 80% students who sought admission to the Dhaka University over the past four years, have failed to get the required pass marks in the admission tests.
The DU admission test results for the 2014-15 academic session show that out of 259, 649 candidates in five units, 214,371 (82.56%) students failed to obtain the minimum pass marks.
The failure rate was 81% in the 2013-14 academic session, 83% in the 2012-13 academic session, and 81% in the 2011-12 academic session.
The failure rate in the 2014-15 session shows that 96.9% candidates failed in Cha unit, 79.39% in C unit, 90.45% in B unit, 83.45% in D unit and 78.5 % in A unit.
The failure percentage in 2013-14 was 95% in Cha unit, 91% in C unit, 86% in B unit and around 91% in D unit. The number of failed students was comparatively less in A unit, where the figure was 58%.
Mamunur Rashid, member of the central admission committee of DU, said: “It is very alarming that in the university admission test the number of failed students who obtained GPA 5 in both SSC and HSC are rising every year.”
He also said even the standard of those who passed in the admission test with GPA 5 in both SSC and HSC exams is not up to the mark. These students enjoy the advantage of getting 80 points on the basis of their highest scores in those examinations.
“But sadly they failed to secure a better position in the merit list.”
We think its happening as schools and colleges are not imparting quality education.
Dismal picture in English admission test
The Education Board's subject-wise pass rate in this year's Higher Secondary Certificate examination shows that overall 83% students passed the English in eight education boards while it was 98.65% In the Madrassa Education Board.
But, the same students performed poorly in Dhaka University admission test. Only two students managed to enrol in Dhaka University “Kha” (B) unit exam for English Department under 2014-15 session.
Earlier, a World Bank study said learning outcome among students remains poor. Nearly 75% of fifth graders do not have adequate competence for grade V Bangla while 67% lack that in mathematics, a World Bank report released in March this year, said.
The information for the report was collected from the Directorate of Primary Education.
Dhaka University Professor Emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury said the reason behind poor performance was because students were not learning properly in class room.
