UGC expert body bins software idea
An expert committee formed by the University Grants Commission yesterday opined that it will not be wise to arrange online university admission test using a software, developed by a university VC.
In meeting at UGC, they said there is lack of capacity in holding university admission test online. If the exams were conducted online using the software, it would create more confusion, and evaluation might not be correct due to lack of network and technical reasons, they said.
Prof Munaz Ahmed Noor, vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Digital University, developed the software, said a UGC statement.
While making a presentation at the meeting, Munaz said with the software, universities will be able to hold their internal exams.
"At this moment, the software is not in suitable for holding admission tests," he said.
The eight-member expert committee included Dhaka University's computer science and engineering professor Hafiz Md Hasan Babu; Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology's computer science and engineering professor Mostofa Akbar, and Bangladesh Open University's professor Mostofa Azad Kamal.
UGC reviewed the software as many VCs of public universities were hopeful that this year they would be able to hold the admission test for next academic session online using this software, instead of in-person exams due to the coronavirus situation.
On October 17, vice-chancellors of public universities from a virtual meeting of Bangladesh Bishwabidyalaya Parishad -- an association of public university vice-chancellors -- decided on principle that admission tests for freshers would be held.
They, however, said date and mode of exams would be announced later.
This year, confusion about admission tests emerged after the government decided to award grades to candidates of Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent exams without holding public exams amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Instead of the exams, candidates' evaluation would be based on their results in the Junior School Certificate, Secondary School Certificate and equivalent tests.
HSC and equivalent exams were cancelled out of fear that they would increase risk of coronavirus transmission. More than 13.65 lakh students were expected to sit for the exams.
The government postponed the exams following the closure of all educational institutions on March 17. They are to stay closed until at November 14.
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