Uniform admission tests

In order to minimise the inconveniences students and their parents have to face during the admission season, the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (UGC) has decided to proceed with their plan of a uniform admission test from the 2020-21 academic year that covers all the public universities of the country.

A discussion regarding the entire initiative took place last month between the UGC and the Vice Chancellors of the public universities where both parties agreed that the new system can only be beneficial to admission seekers.

At first glance, the idea as a whole seems to be the perfect solution to all the problems people face during the time of the entrance exams. However, the more you think about it, more flaws seem to surface.

The uniform admission test will allow examinees to sit for the exam at a centre near their home or of their choice. It will save students from the hassles of travelling long distances to sit for the entrance exams at the public universities of their choice. A uniform admission test will also shorten the time needed for students to enrol at a public university, which will help to minimise session backlog.

Now, no matter how you look at it, the system still has a few downsides to it, some of which need to be addressed and resolved before it gets too late.

The uniform tests will make the competition even harder. Under the new system, you're not going to get a second chance, i.e. for example, previously, if you had failed the KUET entrance exam, you could always try your luck at RUET, CUET, and so on. This time, there's just one exam. Get it wrong, and you'll have lost your only opportunity. Sitting for the exam a second time may be allowed in the new system, but that hasn't been specified yet.

As seen before, such central exams that take place over the whole country (like the medical college entrance exams, and the SSC and HSC exams) are often plagued with numerous accusations, like the distribution of wrong question papers or the question papers being leaked. The central admission test will have to deal with the same risks. They also need to maintain the integrity of the system all over the country. In no way can they allow the misappropriation of authority during the time of the central exams.  The idea of conducting a uniform admission test for all public universities is indeed a good initiative. But whether it is a flawless one or not can only be determined once the idea is brought to fruition.