Leaks bare flaws in entrance test

LAHORE:THE recent incidents of leakage of question papers of entrance tests for admission to professional institutes has exposed the negligence on part of those responsible besides highlighting active and powerful mafia involved in selling education.

The papers are leaked and distributed among the students to mint quick and huge money by the influential mafia having deep penetration and connection with those involved in preparation of the tests.

There are reports that 17 July s entrance test of the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) for admission to its BE/BS Mathematics/BCS, which was cancelled following over its leakage reports, was sold at Rs 50,000 and more. Similarly, there are rumours that the UET entrance test which had to be cancelled on July 24 after reports of leakage of some of its portion was also sold at Rs 50,000 to Rs 100,000.

The Punjab government had introduced entrance test as a mandatory activity to filter out students coming from various local as well as foreign examination bodies so that only the really talented could secure admission to engineering and medical colleges. However, it is quite obvious that the very spirit behind conduct of entrance test comes under attack whenever an incident of paper leakage surfaces. Students and their parents are critical of the government and demand that admission to professional institutes should be made on an open merit basis as is the case with admissions to institutes of general education.

Over the years mushroom growth of entrance test preparation centres has been observed while the fact cannot be ignored too that heavy fees are charged by these centres to prepare students for various kinds of entrance tests.

The stakeholders have been demanding the Punjab government to regulate unbridled working of the private entrance test preparation centres but to no avail. The government s indifferent response in this regard is similar to its response towards working of private schools and colleges as no regulatory body is in place despite repeated and genuine demands.

The increasing incidents of leakage of entry tests should be an eye-opener for the government while now the stakeholders also demand that the government also investigate working of entrance test preparation centres in this regard.

In Punjab, the University of Engineering & Technology (UET) Lahore conducts entrance test for admission to engineering institutes while the University of Health Science (UHS) organizes test for admission to medical colleges and universities of the province. However, now many pubic sector varsities have also introduced entrance test for admission to various academic programmes other than engineering and medical disciplines and they conduct entrance tests themselves. This shows the kind of ambiguity the whole system of entrance test offers besides many other loopholes. The very absence of a single body to conduct entrance tests also plays a role in leaking of question papers.

It is pertinent to mention here that in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency (ETEA), headed by the province s chief minister, conducts entrance tests for admission to engineering and medical institutes. Besides, the body is also mandated to introduce reforms in the examination and testing systems and impart training in order to achieve objectivity, transparency and efficiency.

Academic circles are of the view that the Punjab government, if it continues with the entrance test phenomenon, certainly needs a centralised body like the ETEA, comprising honest and committed individuals to achieve transparency.-lachvee@gmail.com .The news.