The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Wednesday decided to hold public university admission test in four separate clusters, departing from uniform admission. The four clusters include Science and Technology universities, Agriculture universities, Engineering and Technology universities and general public universities.
The UGC took the decision as five universities--Dhaka University, Chittagong University, Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) refused its proposal to join uniform admission test. The UGC Chairman Prof Dr Kazi Shahidullah said that about 34 universities will take part in this cluster system admission test. He said this to the reporters after attending a meeting with vice chancellors (VC) of all public universities at UGC auditorium in the capital.
UGC Chairman said, “We have decided to hold cluster system admission test after discussing the matter with VC’s. In this cluster system, we will arrange four separate admission test for Science and Technology universities, Agriculture universities, Engineering and Technology universities and general public universities. However, in general universities, the admission test will be taken in three different clusters for science, commerce and arts background students.”
Replying to a query, he said, “Country’s five big public universities will not join the cluster system. But, 34 universities gave us their final decision to join the cluster system.” He also said, “There have been a series of long discussions with all university VCs. Vice-Chancellors of BUET, Dhaka University and Chittagong University also attended the meeting. They applauded the process of cluster system. But they said that they could not join this cluster system due to their internal problems.”
Replying to another query, UGC Member Md Alamgir said, “A central committee will be formed again in the first week of March. They will prepare the subcommittee which will organise the admission test, formulate a questionnaire and decide on all matters, including the results.”
He said admission test will be conducted in every university as before. Application will be taken online. After taking cluster system examination, the results will be sent to each university accordingly. All Central Committee and Sub-Committee members will supervise the examination.”
After completing the admission test, admission test will be conducted in a number of colleges under the National University, he said. Earlier, on February 13, the UGC decided to arrange a uniform admission test system for all public universities from the next academic year, 2020-2021, to reduce sufferings of students and their guardians.
But, five universities – Dhaka University, Chittagong University, Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) confirmed that they won’t be participating in the uniform admission test process.