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Is 3-hour entry test enough to judge 12-year education: Discussion on Badal Dou

Dunya News

Rana Mashhood says entry test system was introduced in 1998 in order to counter cheating mafia

LAHORE: (Dunay News, Web Desk) – The panel on Dunya News program ‘Badal Dou’ on Saturday discussed why the entry test is necessary/unnecessary in judging a student for higher education. Host Iftikhar Ahmad questioned the panelists if a 3-hour entry test was the right criteria to judge 12-year education of a student. Punjab’s Minister for Education Rana Mashhood told that the entry test system was introduced in 1998 in order to counter the ‘cheating mafia’ and also to match the standard of the international universities, reported Dunya News.

The panel included provincial minister for Higher Education and Schools Education Punjab Rana Mashhood, Vice Chancellor ZAB Medical University Professor Dr. Javed Akram, Registrar King Edward Medical College Professor Dr. Atif Kazmi and former Chairman Lahore Board Dr. Ejaz Qureshi.

The panel raised quite valid points for and against entry test system and a great discussion helped the people to understand the issue better. Education Minister Rana Mashhood said that Punjab government introduced entry test system in 1998 in order to counter the ‘cheating mafia’ and also to provide the universities with an opportunity to compete on international level. He told that the government was under pressure from international institutions about the validity of the degrees awarded by Pakistani universities and therefore, it was important to introduce the entry system in order to fight the rote learning and cheating mafia as well. He later told in the program that the government is going to make a law against tuition mafia as well.

Dr. Ejaz Qureshi seconded Rana Mashhood on the reason of introducing entry test system. He said that it was necessary to introduce the entry test system back then because the international institutions were not ready to accept Pakistani institutions’ degress.

It is pertinent to mention here that last year a committee had been set up to discuss if the entry test should continue or the universities should rely solely on board examination only. Some of the members of the committee suggested ending entry test system. However, the chairman of Higher Education Commission opined that the entry into higher education institutions should be standardized because board examination system is not standardized.

When the host asked Rana Mashhood whether the majority members of that committee had agreed on ending entry system or not, the provincial minister said that there was a mixed result.

However, Iftikhar Ahmad repeatedly asked if 3-hour entry test was the right criteria to judge 12-hour education of a student. “What if that student is under pressure on that particular day? Does it mean that his 12-year education was useless?”, asked Ahmad. Atif Kazmi responded to this question, saying that if a student can’t perform in a 3-hour entry test because of pressure, how can we count on him/her doing a medical surgery?

Dr. Javed Akram raised some very valid points during the discussion. He said that the government must be appreciated for curbing cheating mafia in Punjab but the entry test is still there despite the fact that cheating has been curbed. “It means that the problem still persists”, he added.

However, students have to compete on the international level, continued Dr. Akram, and the toughest challenge they face among the Asian students in universities abroad comes from the Indian students. He said that the government comes under pressure due to this competition at the international level.

Dr. Atif Kazmi said that even the BISE system is not standardized. A Lahore Board topped may not be equally good in the Sargodha Board examination. He also said that the students from suburban centers and rural areas perform better mainly because they have almost no distractions. "Their TV and internet consumption is way below the students of Lahore or Rawalpindi", he said. He suggested to include Aptitude Test into Entry Test as well and said that 50% marks of the Entry Test should be allocated to Aptitude Test.

The panel agreed on the following points after a long discussion and brainstorming:

Dr. Ejaz Qureshi wrote a differential note:

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