No chance of varsity admission test online 

The public universities have no plan on holding their entrance tests online. 

In conversation with vice-chancellors and pro vice-chancellors of some public universities, it has come to be known that they are not considering digital testing at all.    

Most of the public university heads opined that there is no such practice in Bangladesh, making it impossible to make arrangements for online testing. 

They said it is also not possible to conduct the university admission tests before January next year given the Education Minister's earlier declaration that the HSC results will be published on the basis of JSC and SSC results in December this year, and the universities would require at least one month to make preparations.   

While offering his take on the issue, Jahangirnagar University Pro Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof Dr Md Amir Hussain told The Business Standard that the university must arrange the admission tests and the students will take them in person. 

"We have no experience of conducting such tests online," he said. 

"We are waiting for the HSC results, which are yet to be published. We will call a meeting in this regard soon. I think the University Grants Commission will issue a directive about the test." 

Asked about the inclusion of HSC and SSC results, Prof Amir said: "We have to think about it differently this year. This is a new chapter we are going through. So, we need to have an elaborate discussion on the matter with the authorities concerned." 

The HSC exams usually start from April 1 and the results are published in the first week of May. 

The universities conduct testing before enrolment from the second week of September till the end of November. But this year, the HSC results will be published in December, while the dates for admission tests of different public universities will be set later. 

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of Dhaka University, Prof ASM Maksud Kamal told TBS that there is no alternative to holding in-person entrance tests for university admission.

"We will hold a Deans Committee Meeting very soon to discuss the admissions process, question pattern and other formalities," he said.

When asked about the inclusion of only SSC marks in the admissions process, he said: "We will come up with a final decision during that meeting."

"We will hold a detailed discussion to ensure that no students become deprived." 

Vice-Chancellor of Jagannath University, Prof Dr Mijanur Rahman said: "We will have a meeting with the vice-chancellors of public universities. Opinions of a majority of vice-chancellors will be granted."

But there is no possibility of going for online admission tests, he confirmed. 

According to UGC sources, admission tests will be organized in four phases. 

The admission tests of engineering, agricultural and general universities will be in three phases, while BUET, Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University and Chattogram University will hold their entrance tests for admission separately.

There are currently 60,000 available places in 39 public universities of the country.

This year, all 13 lakh HSC examinees will pass –for the first time ever, the country will witness a 100% pass in HSC without any examinations. 

The move will essentially make all admission seekers eligible to sit for university admission tests.