Question on question papers?

THE results of the admission test of the 'Kha” unit of the University of Dhaka for the 2014-15 academic session were very disappointing. A total of 40,565 students sat for the test against 2,221 seats on September 19. Of them, only 3,874 students i.e. 9.55% passed. Only two students qualified for enrolment in the English department. The results raised questions about the standard of education in the country. The minister for education, on the contrary, finds the admission test system faulty and unacceptable. Recently, we noticed a trend of linking the success of the government with the success of the students at the school final examinations. The results are ceremoniously presented to the head of the government by the chairpersons of the school boards in front of TV cameras and the government seems to be happy with the high rates of success of the students without assessing the quality of their education.

The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) provides data on mathematics and science achievements of US students compared to that of students in other countries (excluding Bangladesh). Corrective measures are taken in the States if the US students are found to lag behind others. The US universities do not conduct any admission test but take into consideration the results of school final examinations and SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) or ACT (American College Testing). The SAT, a standardized test on mathematics, critical reading and writing, is widely used for admission into US colleges and universities. It is managed by the College Board, a private non-profit organization. The ACT consists of math, English, reading (including a subsection on social studies) and science reasoning tests and is administered by Everett Franklin Lindquist, a competitor to the College Board. ACT also conducts proficiency tests on specific subjects.

In our country, the school boards must be allowed to set their own standards without interference from the government. We should have a central standardised system of examinations like SAT or ACT, without leaking question papers and without allowing unfair means at examinations, to facilitate admission into colleges and universities. We may call it CAT (College Admission Tests). The tests must be administered by an independent and autonomous body, called College Admission Board (CAB), consisting of university and college teachers. CAT can also conduct proficiency tests on specific subjects. Like many countries in the world, we should also join the TIMSS group of countries for evaluation of the standard of our school education.

There is no reason to conduct experiments on our students. What is wrong if we learn from the experience of others?

The writer is a former chief engineer of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission.