Students demand scope to switch units in cluster admission tests

Students seeking entry to different universities Tuesday demanded inclusion of Bangla, English and general knowledge questions in the test under each cluster admission unit so that they can change subject from one faculty to another.

Under the banner of 'Students willing to change department', they formed a human chain to press their demand in front of the National Press Club in the capital.

HSC-passed students from different educational institutions took part in the human chain carrying banners and festoons.

They demand opportunity to switch subject as was previously possible under a common unit; inclusion of Bangla, English and general knowledge question in each unit, and inclusion of general knowledge instead of ICT or both in arts faculty test.

Asaduzzaman Sikder, a student from Srishti College in Tangail, at the programme said, "I had a dream to get admitted to university. But I got admission to college and that too in a science department, which did not want. I wanted to change subject in university. So, for the last two years, I took preparation in Bangla, English and general knowledge. But sudden change of decision by the authorities not to take separate test under a common unit killed my dream."

Nasir Hossain, a student of Dhaka Notre Dame College, said, "We have been preparing for admission for the last two years. Why were we not informed of such a decision before? If it is possible to take the university admission test in our own district for our convenience, but why not take a separate exam for changing department for our convenience."

The students at the human chain warned that they would wage tougher movement if the University Grants Commission (UGC) did not accept their demands by 23 December.

A meeting between UGC and vice-chancellors of different universities on 1 December decided to take cluster admission test in 19 general and science and technology universities.

It also decided that there will be three separate admission tests in these universities for students of science, arts and commerce departments. The opportunity to change subject will be under separate unit.

Students will be given a score through this test. Universities will then admit students on the basis of the scores and number of seats according to their choices.