SANGHAR, Aug 20: The time allotted for entrance tests for admissions to medical colleges in the public sector is not adequate and many students would be unable to complete it as a result of which they would be at a disadvantage. In short, they will be unable to get admissions.

Mohammad Saleem Gill, Prof of Physics at the Government Degree College, Sanghar, and Mohammad Ali Qureshi, Prof of Mathematics, at the Government Degree College, Sanghar, said that in the Physics section of the test, 30 questions had to be solved in 19 minutes, which gave an average of 37.9 seconds for solving each question.

They said that the time allotted was inadequate because any question which contained numericals required more time and it was impossible to solve the paper in such a short time.

They said that previously 20 questions had to be solved in 15 minutes, which gave an average of 45 seconds for solving each question.

They said that physics had less importance than biology in medical studies, but this point had not been considered.

The parents of students said the students should be given carbonized question papers.

They demanded merit lists be issued to students, and added that to make the process transparent, a complete merit list should be provided to them.

The medical colleges treat merit lists as confidential and do not provide it to candidates except for displaying it on the notice board of the college concerned, which is why malpractice committed by lower staff of medical colleges do not come to surface immediately.

The parents, students and teachers have resented the decision for making Cadet College Petaro as a centre for holding entrance tests for admissions to medical colleges in the public sector.

They also regretted reduction of 10 marks of biology and addition of these to the physics section.

They said that the last date for admissions is 30th Aug but the results are announced on 20th Aug and demanded that the date be extended by 10 days.

Ahmed Ali, Abdul Razzaq, Prof Siddiq Unnar and many others, whose wards are preparing to appear in the entrance tests which will be held on Sept 14, said that the Bahria Foundation has been given the task to conduct the test and Cadet College Petaro was selected as the centre for Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad and Tharparkar.

They said that earlier, these tests were conducted by the IBA at the Public School Latifabad, Hyderabad, which was a convenient location, while Petaro was located too far away and could not be reached easily.

Those who owned cars or lived around Hyderabad could reach Petaro easily but it was impossible for people of Khipro, Achhro Thar, Khadro, Mithi, Umerkot and other far-flung areas.

They said even the Cadet College Petaro usually held tests at the Noor Mohammad High School, Hyderabad, and how students would reach it has not been considered by the organisers.