Why the cluster examination system is falling apart
A cluster system is more student-friendly, as it reduces expenses, stress and travel costs. Yet, major universities complain the tests do not do a good job of selecting candidates
Choyon Hasan, a 2024 higher secondary graduate from Chandpur, will sit for public university admission tests for the first time this year. As a student from a science background, he is planning to sit for the science groups, engineering universities, and also arts groups.
However, now that universities are opting out of the cluster admission system, Choyon is worried about whether he will be able to make it.
"I was hoping that the cluster system would allow me to try for a maximum number of institutions, as I would be able to sit in my own district and take the tests. Now I will have to travel to Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, Cumilla, and Sylhet just to sit for the exams, and according to my calculations, it would cost me from Tk70,000 to almost Tk1 lakh on transportation, food and night stay," he said.
Even after all these, Choyon is not sure whether he will be admitted to any of the public universities at all.
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Bangladesh's cluster admission test system is facing challenges as several leading universities are opting to withdraw from it and conduct their own independent admission tests. Jagannath University, Chattagram University, Khulna University, Cumilla University, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET), Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), and Shahjalal University of Engineering and Technology (Sust) have already withdrawn from the system and announced their own circular.
This indicates that the system is not functioning effectively in its current form, causing uncertainty for the upcoming academic year. Distrust in the results of the cluster test has caused some universities to believe that their own admission tests better reflect student quality.
Currently, there are 55 public universities and 114 affiliated private universities across the country. Bachelor (Honours) is taught in 881 colleges under National University.
Before 2019, universities used to conduct separate entrance exams. At first, the seven agricultural universities agreed to conduct the admission test on a cluster basis in the academic year 2019-20.
Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology and Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology are conducting the admission test as a cluster. Also, 24 general and Science and Technology (GST) universities in the country formed another cluster for admissions tests.
Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chittagong, Jahangirnagar University, and Bangladesh University of Engineering (BUET) conduct the examination separately. However, despite not being in a cluster, Dhaka University has managed to reduce the suffering of students by conducting admission tests in eight divisional cities in the country.
On the other hand, students have been admitted through the same admission test in all the government medical colleges in the country for almost three decades. Later, private medical colleges also joined the process. As a result, there are no problems with the medical admissions examination.
However, when it comes to the cluster system for general universities, discussions about whether they should continue or not appear to take place every year. We spoke with the Vice Chancellor of Shahjalal University of Engineering and Technology (SUST), Dr AM Sarwaruddin Chowdhury and asked why they decided to opt out from the system.
"Honestly speaking, our students do not want to be included in the system. It's a lengthy process. Also, SUST has a reputation. We have more than 130 teachers, and more than 25 departments including engineering, science, and language. The cluster system does not do justice to our institution."
"The application forms cost Tk700 to Tk1200. If a student has to apply with 15 different forms, they will have to spend an average of Tk1000 for each. Now add the costs of transport, food and stay. Multiply the travel cost by three if the applicant is a girl, she will have her parents with her. For a farmer's child in Kurigram, do you think it is fair to them?"
According to Dr Chowdhury, this system filters out good students with potential. "While Dhaka University, BUET, and Jahangirnagar university are conducting their separate admission tests, it's unfair to ask the other universities to be in a cluster system," he added.
However, Dr Mohammad Lutfur Rahman, Vice Chancellor of Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University has a different take on this. Dr Lutfur was the convener of the nine agriculture university cluster admission test of 2023-24.
"There are debates regarding the cluster system among the universities, however, most of these universities are in support of the system," he said.
There are two sides here. A cluster system is more student-friendly, as it reduces expenses, stress and travel costs.
"The application forms cost Tk700 to Tk1200. If a student has to apply with 15 different forms, they will have to spend an average of Tk1000 for each. Now add the costs of transport, food and stay. Multiply the travel cost by three if the applicant is a girl, she will have her parents with her. For a farmer's child in Kurigram, do you think it is fair to them?" Dr Lutfur posed the question.
He also provides the perspective of the universities, "The reputed ones do not want to let go of the money they get from selling the application forms. Suppose, one such institution has 2,000 seats, but they will sell 50,000 forms. A less reputed university with fewer seats will have to sell fewer forms. This is another reason some universities want to conduct separate exams, while some others want a cluster system."
However, both the Vice Chancellors, Dr AM Sarwaruddin Chowdhury and Dr Mohammad Lutfur Rahman, agree that at the end of the day, we need to consider the students' side, because the education system is for them. But it is the Ministry of Education that must decide on a path that will offer equal opportunities for all universities and students.
