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Pvt varsity entry now sans certificate


Published : 10 Nov 2020 09:28 PM | Updated : 11 Nov 2020 12:38 AM

Some private universities have started the first year honours admission process without certificates from students, giving rise to apprehensions that such activities will deteriorate the quality of education, academics say.

The government decided to allow all students to pass the Higher Secondary level without examination this year amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

Evaluation activities of HSC candidates will be on the basis of SSC and JSC results. 

Although the result publication date has not been announced as yet, preparations are underway to publish it by December. 

Prior to publication of results, several private universities are admitting HSC students in the undergraduate classes. Some universities are even offering opportunities to participate in classes.

According to the University Grants Commission (UGC), one of the conditions for admission to the undergraduate class is to have an HSC or equivalent degree. Thus, it is a violation of admission rules to admit students, or permit class participation before getting the HSC certificate. 

However, the private university authorities say, there is no barrier to admitting students as the government has already announced that all students will pass this year.

Dhaka International University (DIU) in the capital is on the list of private universities that admitted students before passing HSC. 

When contacted on Monday, the concerned official said the admission could be done with the certificate of JSC and SSC before passing the HSC. 

MA Hannan, the university’s admissions officer said, “Admission can be done before the publishing of the HSC results. If you want, you can be admitted tomorrow.”

Not only admission, some private universities are also giving the opportunity to take part in classes. 

One such university is The International University of Scholars.

When contacted, the admissions officer at the university informed this reporter about the opportunity to participate in the class as well as the admission before the HSC pass certificate.

Private University Act, 2010 and the rules of eligibility for admission did not provide any opportunity for admission of students in the undergraduate class before passing the HSC. 

The UGC issued an office memorandum last year stating the eligibility for admission of students in private universities. 

According to the memorandum, an applicant must have at least second class or 2.5 grade in SSC and HSC or equivalent examinations in case of admission in the undergraduate class. 

As such, a student must pass the HSC examination for admission. But the private universities are not abiding by this important condition.

Dr Md Mohibul Ahsan, Deputy Director of Private University Division of UGC, told Bangladesh Post, “There is no way but to follow the UGC’s guideline in the admission process.”

To a query on whether it will be legal if any university admits students before the publishing of the results, he said, “It is not clear on what basis the universities are now admitting students. We will look into the matter.”

In this regard, UGC member Prof Biswajit Chanda said, “Admission to the university with SSC pass certificate is not legal. Necessary action will be taken in consultation with the concerned authorities if we see such kinds of irregularities.”

Sheikh Kabir Hossain, of the Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB) told Bangladesh Post, “HSC candidates should have the opportunity of conditional admission. Private universities did not admit sufficient students in the last two semesters due to covid-19 crisis. So everyone is looking forward to the release of HSC exam results.”

He also said, “Now, all the students will pass in HSC as announced by the government, I think these aspiring students should be given the opportunity of provisional admission. In this case UGC also needs to give instructions.”