STUDENTS protested the publication of results of “Gha” unit admission test of Dhaka University. The result was published within shortest possible time despite widespread allegations of question leak and their demand for cancellation of it for fresh admission test. The “Ka” unit admission test was held on October 13 and the result was published five days later, while the result of “Gha” unit took only three days and admission-seekers blamed that the university authorities worked in haste fearing mass protest. The result of “Ga” unit test also took similar time. But the number of candidates competing for “Kha” and “Ga” units is said to be lesser than that of “Gha” unit.
Allegations said questions of the English part of the admission test of Gha unity were leaked eight hours before the test began. Many suspected that few admission-seekers received the questions in emails. A written copy of the answers to those questions was also reportedly sent to mobile phones of some admission seekers. As a result, many admission-seekers are demanding fresh admission test. They demonstrated in the campus while the varsity management is trying to ignore the allegations to cover their reported failure to hold the test free from question leakage.
The DU authorities are however denying the allegations without taking steps to investigate the matter causing resentment among admission-seekers, their guardians and even in the general public as they see the repeated failure of the varsity management to take untainted admission test and the level of corruption in a section of officers and employees involved in taking the test. Instead they have formed an investigative body to find out people who they blame for spreading rumors of question leak.
Our education system has reached its lowest point over the recent time. It never faced such a deplorable situation to make admission test a business commodity to make illegal fortune by a few. We must say the misuse of admission test must stop. But when part of the varsity staff tasked to take admission tests become corrupt and let the question leakage happen there is hardly anyway to stop it unless the varsity authorities create a drastic monitoring system and punishment mechanism for whoever will be found involved in it. The cover up can’t stop protest while it is destroying public confidence in the DU authorities as competent body to run it.
The biggest threat to the society from such leakage is that children of wealthy families who can spend enough to buy questions will get admission misusing the system despite their poor merit compared to those who sit for competitive test to make their best career. We can’t allow it to happen. We urge the varsity authorities to make the matter transparent and address the genuine concern of the students seeking admission by way of unimpeded admission tests.
