The Government of Bangladesh is in the process of implementing a single admission test for all students applying to public universities, starting from the next academic year. However, concerns have arisen as five top universities have not yet supported the plan, raising fears of potential delays in its execution.

University Grants Commission (UGC), the apex regulatory body, announced the introduction of the single test following a meeting in early April. The primary objective of this initiative is to simplify the admissions process for applicants and reduce the financial burden on students. Currently, many students incur expenses by enrolling in expensive coaching centres to prepare for multiple institutional tests, often requiring travel and overnight stays in different cities.

Under the proposed plan, all public universities will admit students through a single admission test commencing from the 2023-24 academic year. To administer this exam, the government intends to establish a separate entity called the National Testing Authority (NTA).

Education Minister Dipu Moni stated in a media briefing after the April 3 meeting that the decision to implement a single entrance test was made with the best interests of students and parents in mind. The new system will be further discussed with university deans and examination committees. Moni assured that the single test would be inclusive and would not compromise the uniqueness and autonomy of each university.

Top universities to propose a system

University Grants Commission (UGC) has set a deadline of 30 April for all universities to express their opinions regarding the national test system. However, concerns have arisen about whether major universities, including Dhaka University, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Rajshahi University, Jahangirnagar University, and Chittagong University, which are highly sought-after destinations for students, will participate in the proposed system. This uncertainty has raised concerns within the UGC about the timely implementation of the plan.

Currently, Bangladesh has 53 public universities, excluding medical universities, affiliated universities, and an open university. These universities collectively have the capacity to admit around 60,000 students per academic year. Presently, 22 general and science universities conduct a "central admission test" under a cluster system. Additionally, seven agriculture universities and three engineering and technology universities hold joint tests under two different clusters.

Nine universities, including Dhaka University, BUET, Rajshahi University, Jahangirnagar University, and Chittagong University, operate independently of the cluster system. These universities currently conduct their separate admission tests following the Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) exams at the end of Class 12.
In recent interviews with University World News, officials from Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University, Dhaka University, BUET, and Chittagong University stated that they are yet to decide whether they will join the proposed single entry test system. They mentioned the need for discussions with their respective academic councils and decision-making bodies before making a final decision.

The UGC, however, remains hopeful that all universities will eventually participate in the single-entry test system. They emphasize that the proposal was put forth by the former president of Bangladesh, Mohammad Abdul Hamid, who serves as the chancellor of all public universities. The UGC member, Muhammed Alamgir, stated that they anticipate everyone's participation as per the chancellor's instructions.

The UGC believes that implementing a single-entry test system will alleviate application-related difficulties, such as travelling between cities, and reduce the overall cost of the admissions process for applicants.

Better admission process

Each year, approximately one million students successfully pass the Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) exams in Bangladesh. However, the existing admissions tests are highly competitive due to the limited number of available seats compared to the large number of students seeking admission.

In order to improve the admission process, it was decided last month to form a high-powered committee led by UGC Chair Kazi Shahidullah. This committee, which will include university representatives, will work on devising strategies for the implementation of the enhanced admission process, as mentioned by Alamgir, a UGC member.

The Education Ministry issued a circular on 15 April, assigning the UGC the responsibility of taking necessary steps to bring all public universities under a single admission test starting from the 2023-24 academic year.

Furthermore, in a letter dated 30 April, the UGC requested the views of the respective universities within a 30-day period.

Former UGC Chairman Professor Nazrul Islam expressed his support for the idea of conducting a single admission test but emphasised the need for a competent, separate, and dedicated testing authority to oversee the process. He also highlighted the importance of having all higher education institutions begin their classes simultaneously, as it would benefit the students. Islam cautioned that if the five leading universities opt out of the single-entry test, it may adversely impact their image and isolate them from the proposed system. Islam further mentioned that the opposition from several large and reputable universities had previously delayed the implementation of the cluster admission test system. Although initially planned in 2010, it was not implemented until 2019 when seven agricultural universities adopted the system for the first time.

Source: University World News