PESHAWAR: In a major development, the Khyber Medical University has decided to hold the annual test for admission to the public sector medical and dental colleges across the province only after the announcement of FSc exam’s results.
KMU Vice-Chancellor Prof Arshad Javaid told Dawn that the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council had decided to allow students with at least 60 per cent marks in FSc examination to take the entrance test.
“Now, only those with good marks will sit the test,” he said.
Until now, the KMU has allowed all FSc students to sit the entrance test before the results of their exams are declared by their respective educational boards.
Only those with at least 60pc marks in FSc exam to sit entrance test
Prof Arshad, who was a member of the ad-hoc body of the PMDC formed by former Supreme Court chief justice Mian Saqib Nisar to streamline the affairs of medical and dental education in the country, said he had suggested that only the students with minimum 70 per cent marks in intermediate examination be allowed to sit the entrance test, but the PMDC had put the percentage at 60 in a big development.
The Education Testing and Evaluation Agency conducts test for admission to medical and dental colleges at seven centres established across the province.
The candidates pay Rs1,600 each to sit the test.
Both organisers and candidates face problems on the test day. Last year, 38,000 had taken test for 1,000 MBBS and BDS seats in government colleges of the province.
Last year, the entrance test was cancelled twice due to rainfall as the organisers struggled to hold it outdoor. The academic session got delayed by six weeks.
The VC said the next entrance test would be conducted indoors, so rain wouldn’t adversely affect it.
He said the number of candidates won’t be more than 10,000 as the test would take place only after the exam results were declared.
“We will manage seating arrangements in both public and private places,” he said.
Prof Arshad said the coordination committee for entrance test was considering options to hold the test indoors to prevent candidates from any trouble.
He said fewer students sitting the test would make the entire test smooth and convenient.
“There will be no delay in the academic session,” he said.
Last year, the entrance test was scheduled for July 15 but it was cancelled due to bad weather. It was held on Aug 19 but a paper leak led to its cancellation.
The new exam date was Sept 23 but the test was cancelled again due to rain forecast. The test finally took place on Sept 30.
The Joint Admission Committee consisting of the deans of the government medical and dental colleges had demanded the KMU hold the test after FSc exam’s results are announced allowing only the students with good marks to sit it and discouraging thousands having no chance to get admission in medical and dental colleges.
It had also recommended the start of the academic session between Oct 1 and Oct 15 to complete the academic year ahead of summer vacation in June to help students prepare for the examinations.
Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2019