A large number of the students with brilliant results like GPA-5 in HSC examinations will be denied admission to their 'first-choice' public universities and medical colleges because their number is much more than the number of seats in those institutions.

Many students with good results do not go for higher education because admission capacity of quality public universities is limited and new ones are not being set up to accommodate the increasing number of good result achievers in HSC examinations.

Only two new public universities were established in the last three years while HSC pass rate increased by around 17 percent during the period. Besides, the number of GPA-5 holders rose four times since 2005.

The University Grants Commission's (UGC) 20-year (2006-2026) strategic plan for higher education suggests establishment of at least 28 universities.

At present, 1,800 colleges affiliated with the National University (NU), especially those in the rural areas, do not get sufficient students because of their poor quality education and outdated curricula, academicians pointed out.

Around 4.6 lakh students passed HSC examinations this year with the pass rate being 76.19 and 22,045 getting GPA-5. Pass percentage is more than 10 percent higher and GPA-5 achievers almost double compared to those last year.

A tough competition naturally awaits aspirants for admission to all public universities, especially Dhaka University, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), 15 public medical colleges and some private universities.

Meanwhile, academicians have suggested cancellation of admission tests, and introduction of a new system of admission on the basis of GPA (Grade Point Average) in SSC and HSC examinations to reduce the sufferings of admission seekers.

Against this backdrop, the education ministry, University Grants Commission (UGC) and authorities of public universities at a meeting agreed to introduce group-wise admission test like that for admission to medical colleges.

Contacted, UGC Chairman Prof Nazrul Islam said the number of seats in universities will have to be increased as the number of HSC passed students is rising. “No doubt, time has come to take steps for this. But we have to maintain the quality of education. Otherwise, the purpose of higher education will be defeated.”

He suggested introducing double shift or evening shift in public universities and renowned colleges to meet the present crisis.

Renowned academician Prof Serajul Islam Choudhury said some reputable colleges should be upgraded into universities by providing required facilities.

Education Secretary M Momtajul Islam however claimed that there would not be any problem in getting admission for higher education.

“We have 14,750 seats in public universities, 17,330 in private universities, 1.65 lakh in National University (NU)- affiliated honours colleges and 2.34 lakh NU-affiliated degree colleges,” he said.

Director of Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics (BANBEIS Ahsan Abdullah said, “Students even getting GPA-5 may have to get admitted to second-choice universities as the number of seats in reputed public universities is very small. Whereas most of the NU-affiliated colleges in the rural areas will not get sufficient students because many of them are not eager to study there.”

Some academicians noted that most of the HSC-passed students will not go for higher education mainly due to engaging in professional work, financial inability, marriage of girl students, uncertainty about future, involvement in political activities and a host of other factors.

Public universities including BUET, DU, Jahangirnagar University (JU), Rajshahi University (RU) Khulna University and Chittagong University (CU), public medical colleges, Dental colleges, Leather Technology College and Bangladesh Textile Technology College have only 20,000 seats. Of these, 885 seats are in BUET, around 4,500 in DU, around 1,350 in JU and 2,500 in public medical colleges, sources mentioned.

The authorities do not yet have any plans to increase the number of seats.

Meanwhile, taking advantage of this situation, coaching centres have mushroomed in the capital and other divisional headquarters with hollow promises of ensuring high scores in various admission tests. A large number students are already attending the coaching centres with consequent financial losses to their guardians.

Meanwhile, due to admission problems at home and various other factors, many of the HSC passed students intend to study in foreign universities, especially in US, UK, Canada, Malaysia, India and different countries of the European Union (EU). To capitalise on this, a number of fake consultancy firms have sprung up and many students are falling in their trap.