All public univs agree on single admission test: Dipu Moni

Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni on Monday said that no university has any objection to implementing a single admission test for enrolling students in all the public universities in the country.

She said a high-level committee would be constituted soon to outline the admissions test and they will try to introduce the single admission test from the academic year 2024.

The minister came up with the information after a meeting held at the University Grants Commission (UGC) to take a single exam for admission in all the public universities and to determine what to do about the formation of the National Testing Authority (NTA) to hold the single test.

She said discussions are on how to conduct an integrated admission test in all universities from next year. There will be an integrated exam, but the test will be held once a year, and it may be arranged twice a year.

She said, “There is a matter to be decided on how this integrated examination will be done and in what manner. We will follow the same as it is in developed countries all over the world.“

“We have nothing to innovate. This process is going well in different countries. After reviewing them, the admission test will be conducted in a manner which is most convenient for us, which will not involve any harassment. We have started discussing that process,” she said

Dipu Moni said that the UGC would form a committee to conduct the NTA next year. The committee will analyze everything and proceed with the university admission through a single admission test.

UGC Chairman Prof Kazi Shahidullah said if the admission test is held simultaneously in all universities, the teaching can be started within a short time at the universities. Successful completion of a single admission test will gain acceptance to all. The success of the Single Admission Test would be a huge achievement in higher education.

UGC Chairman Prof Kazi Shahidullah presided over the meeting while UGC members and different university vice-chancellors were also present.

The meeting suggested a framework for holding the single admission test, formation of a policy at the national level and giving a score to the candidate through the admission test.