THE University Grants Commission has further modified the clusters of universities for holding a central admission test of the public universities in the coming academic year of 2020-21. A meeting between the UGC and the university vice-chancellors in the last week decided that the science and technology universities would merge into the cluster of the general universities. The decision was changed as the vice-chancellors of the 11 science and technology universities and Bangladesh Textile University at the meeting desired to hold admission tests with nine general universities. Seven agricultural universities and three engineering universities – Chattogram University of Engineering and Technology, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology and Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology-would hold admission tests in two more clusters as per the previous decision. Bangladesh University of the Professionals, National University, Open University and Islamic Arabic University would remain outside the clusters. Earlier on February 26, the commission declared that 34 public universities would hold admission tests in four clusters as the five major public universities – Dhaka University, Chattogram University, Rajshahi University, Jahangirnagar University, and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology decided not to participate at the UGC proposed centralised admission test for all the 46 public universities.
The universities that would remain out of the cluster system would be requested to give the tentative schedule at the earliest possible time and would also be requested to decrease the number of admission tests. Seven agricultural universities, under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, would hold admission tests in another cluster in another day. Like the previous years, multiple choice questions would be provided in admission tests of both of these two clusters. The uniform admission tests would save the students from travelling to different parts of the country, which takes its toll on them, physically, emotionally and financially as well.
The unified tests will certainly save the students from extra payment for different tests, which has been difficult for many lower and middle-class families.
