Bangladesh

Public universities: Admission woes deepen for students

10 institutions opt out of cluster-based entrance test system
Candidates outside the Arts Building of Dhaka University after sitting for the entrance examinations for undergraduate programmes under B unit (Arts, Law, and Social Science). The photo was taken yesterday around 12:30pm. PHOTO: RASHED SHUMON

Admission seekers are set to face increased hassle with at least 10 public universities no longer participating in the cluster-based admission test system. They are holding entrance exams on their own.

All three universities under the Engineering Cluster have already broken away.

The seven others are among the 24 institutions under the General and Science and Technology (GST) Cluster that expressed their intention to split.

Prof Anwarul Azim Akhand, vice-chancellor of Maulana Bhashani Science and Technology University and convener of the GST Cluster admission test committee, revealed the seven universities' decision to The Daily Star.

"We are hopeful that the rest of the universities will stay with us so that we can hold the test under the cluster," he said.

He said the University Grants Commission (UGC) held several meetings with all the university VCs, while the education ministry issued letters to hold the admission tests under the clusters.

In late November last year, the Secondary and Higher Education Division urged the VCs to ensure that their universities remain part of the cluster admission test system.

Amid growing concerns over the withdrawal of several universities from the clusters, a group of admission seekers announced a "Long March to UGC" at Agargaon in Dhaka at 10:30am today.

The students demand that the authorities retain the system for 24 universities under the GST Cluster by removing the complexities in the system and bringing reforms to it.   

The cluster admission tests were designed to cut cost, time, and hassle for admission seekers, who had to travel to different parts of the country and prepare for different types of exams before the new system was introduced.

But major universities have been leaving the system, saying it created more complications like session jams. They cited issues like delayed result publication and poor planning.

Only the Agriculture Cluster, consisting of nine universities, remains intact, according to university officials.

WHY CLUSTERS

Under the system with separate admission tests, the students' hassle begins after their Higher Secondary Certificate exams. Many of them turn to private coaching centres to prepare for the admission tests.

Then they buy admission forms for different units of multiple universities and spend a lot of time and money on travel and accommodation.

The students often travel with parents or guardians, and sometimes have to check into hotels for overnight stays. There are cases when a candidate has to take separate tests for seats in separate faculties, even separate departments, in one university.

The UGC has long been suggesting modifying the admission process, saying it is too expensive.

In several annual reports, the commission said the public universities would have to take initiatives to introduce a unified admission system to reduce students' hassle and cut their expenses.

Considering the suffering of the students, the cluster admission system was launched for agriculture universities in 2019, and for GST and engineering in 2020.

However, large institutions like Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University, Chittagong University, and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology opted for independent admission tests.

WHY LEAVE

Most of the universities which have already left the cluster system cited their academic council decision or pressure from teachers' associations as reasons.

University officials cited issues like delayed result publication, inefficient admission procedures, and disorganised department allocations that resulted in session jams.

The seven universities that have decided to leave the GST Cluster and hold admission tests independently are Jagannath University; Khulna University; Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), Comilla University; Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalganj; Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University; and Islamic University, Kushtia.

Jagannath University VC Prof Rezaul Karim described the cluster system as a "well-intentioned initiative that suffered from poor planning".

Khulna University VC Prof Md Rezaul Karim also expressed concern over the system's "inefficiencies and flaws", saying it took more time than independent tests, leading to session jams and academic disruptions. He warned that the admission process risks undermining their achievements in the international academic arena.

The GST committee has already announced its entrance exam schedule: C Unit (Business Education) on April 25, B Unit (Humanities) on May 2, and A Unit (Science) on May 9.

The Engineering Cluster has completely opted out of the system, with all three universities -- Rajshahi, Chittagong and Khulna universities of engineering and technology (RUET, CUET and KUET) -- holding their entrance exams independently this year.

RUET began its admission process on January 4, with a preliminary test scheduled for February 8. CUET is set to hold its exam on February 1, while KUET concluded its process on January 15.

RUET VC Prof SM Abdur Razzak said, "As one of the universities opted to conduct admission test independently, we had very little options to stay in the cluster. Consequently, as the final university in the cluster, we stepped away."

"Although we couldn't hold the test under the cluster this year, we will try to do it in future for the benefit of the students," he added.

CONCERNS

The ongoing shake-up has caused significant concern among students, many of whom had supported the cluster system for its convenience. A group of students has also submitted a letter to Education Adviser Prof Wahiduddin Mahmud, requesting that the cluster system remain intact for the benefit of students.

Rahim Abdullah, a student from Bangabandhu Memorial College in Jhenaidah, said, "I've been preparing for months, and now there's uncertainty about which exam I should sit for. The cluster system was helpful because it unified the process, reducing the stress of multiple applications and exams."

Another student, Ahsan Kabir, from Mohammadpur Model School and College in the capital, said, "The system provided us with a convenience that independent tests do not. It saved both time and money. With the departure of major universities, it will only make things more complicated for students like me."

UGC Chairman Prof SMA Faiz said, "We hope universities prioritise the interests of students in their decisions. The UGC will provide support if required."

UGC member Prof Tanzimuddin Khan admitted that an integrated solution is missing in the current cluster system, which he said has structural weaknesses and financial complexities.

"We are thinking about how to resolve these issues and how to simplify the system for students and their guardians.

"However, the UGC no longer has the mandate or administrative authority to intervene in such matters. As a result, even though we wanted to, we could not take the necessary initiatives," he said, adding that currently the education ministry is handling the issue.

Repeated attempts to reach Prof M Aminul Islam, the chief adviser's special assistant on education, for comments failed.

Comments

Public universities: Admission woes deepen for students

10 institutions opt out of cluster-based entrance test system
Candidates outside the Arts Building of Dhaka University after sitting for the entrance examinations for undergraduate programmes under B unit (Arts, Law, and Social Science). The photo was taken yesterday around 12:30pm. PHOTO: RASHED SHUMON

Admission seekers are set to face increased hassle with at least 10 public universities no longer participating in the cluster-based admission test system. They are holding entrance exams on their own.

All three universities under the Engineering Cluster have already broken away.

The seven others are among the 24 institutions under the General and Science and Technology (GST) Cluster that expressed their intention to split.

Prof Anwarul Azim Akhand, vice-chancellor of Maulana Bhashani Science and Technology University and convener of the GST Cluster admission test committee, revealed the seven universities' decision to The Daily Star.

"We are hopeful that the rest of the universities will stay with us so that we can hold the test under the cluster," he said.

He said the University Grants Commission (UGC) held several meetings with all the university VCs, while the education ministry issued letters to hold the admission tests under the clusters.

In late November last year, the Secondary and Higher Education Division urged the VCs to ensure that their universities remain part of the cluster admission test system.

Amid growing concerns over the withdrawal of several universities from the clusters, a group of admission seekers announced a "Long March to UGC" at Agargaon in Dhaka at 10:30am today.

The students demand that the authorities retain the system for 24 universities under the GST Cluster by removing the complexities in the system and bringing reforms to it.   

The cluster admission tests were designed to cut cost, time, and hassle for admission seekers, who had to travel to different parts of the country and prepare for different types of exams before the new system was introduced.

But major universities have been leaving the system, saying it created more complications like session jams. They cited issues like delayed result publication and poor planning.

Only the Agriculture Cluster, consisting of nine universities, remains intact, according to university officials.

WHY CLUSTERS

Under the system with separate admission tests, the students' hassle begins after their Higher Secondary Certificate exams. Many of them turn to private coaching centres to prepare for the admission tests.

Then they buy admission forms for different units of multiple universities and spend a lot of time and money on travel and accommodation.

The students often travel with parents or guardians, and sometimes have to check into hotels for overnight stays. There are cases when a candidate has to take separate tests for seats in separate faculties, even separate departments, in one university.

The UGC has long been suggesting modifying the admission process, saying it is too expensive.

In several annual reports, the commission said the public universities would have to take initiatives to introduce a unified admission system to reduce students' hassle and cut their expenses.

Considering the suffering of the students, the cluster admission system was launched for agriculture universities in 2019, and for GST and engineering in 2020.

However, large institutions like Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University, Chittagong University, and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology opted for independent admission tests.

WHY LEAVE

Most of the universities which have already left the cluster system cited their academic council decision or pressure from teachers' associations as reasons.

University officials cited issues like delayed result publication, inefficient admission procedures, and disorganised department allocations that resulted in session jams.

The seven universities that have decided to leave the GST Cluster and hold admission tests independently are Jagannath University; Khulna University; Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), Comilla University; Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalganj; Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University; and Islamic University, Kushtia.

Jagannath University VC Prof Rezaul Karim described the cluster system as a "well-intentioned initiative that suffered from poor planning".

Khulna University VC Prof Md Rezaul Karim also expressed concern over the system's "inefficiencies and flaws", saying it took more time than independent tests, leading to session jams and academic disruptions. He warned that the admission process risks undermining their achievements in the international academic arena.

The GST committee has already announced its entrance exam schedule: C Unit (Business Education) on April 25, B Unit (Humanities) on May 2, and A Unit (Science) on May 9.

The Engineering Cluster has completely opted out of the system, with all three universities -- Rajshahi, Chittagong and Khulna universities of engineering and technology (RUET, CUET and KUET) -- holding their entrance exams independently this year.

RUET began its admission process on January 4, with a preliminary test scheduled for February 8. CUET is set to hold its exam on February 1, while KUET concluded its process on January 15.

RUET VC Prof SM Abdur Razzak said, "As one of the universities opted to conduct admission test independently, we had very little options to stay in the cluster. Consequently, as the final university in the cluster, we stepped away."

"Although we couldn't hold the test under the cluster this year, we will try to do it in future for the benefit of the students," he added.

CONCERNS

The ongoing shake-up has caused significant concern among students, many of whom had supported the cluster system for its convenience. A group of students has also submitted a letter to Education Adviser Prof Wahiduddin Mahmud, requesting that the cluster system remain intact for the benefit of students.

Rahim Abdullah, a student from Bangabandhu Memorial College in Jhenaidah, said, "I've been preparing for months, and now there's uncertainty about which exam I should sit for. The cluster system was helpful because it unified the process, reducing the stress of multiple applications and exams."

Another student, Ahsan Kabir, from Mohammadpur Model School and College in the capital, said, "The system provided us with a convenience that independent tests do not. It saved both time and money. With the departure of major universities, it will only make things more complicated for students like me."

UGC Chairman Prof SMA Faiz said, "We hope universities prioritise the interests of students in their decisions. The UGC will provide support if required."

UGC member Prof Tanzimuddin Khan admitted that an integrated solution is missing in the current cluster system, which he said has structural weaknesses and financial complexities.

"We are thinking about how to resolve these issues and how to simplify the system for students and their guardians.

"However, the UGC no longer has the mandate or administrative authority to intervene in such matters. As a result, even though we wanted to, we could not take the necessary initiatives," he said, adding that currently the education ministry is handling the issue.

Repeated attempts to reach Prof M Aminul Islam, the chief adviser's special assistant on education, for comments failed.

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