DADU: The phase-wise entry test for admission to various bachelor’s degree programmes for the academic year 2024 began at the University of Sindh, Jamshoro, on Sunday.

A total of 9,240 candidates, including 1,730 female students, took the test in the first phase out of as many as 21,318 candidates seeking admission against almost 10,500 seats in 70 disciplines of bachelor’s degree programmes offered by the university.

SU Vice Chancellor Professor (Meritorious) Dr Muhammad Siddique Kalhoro reviewed the test process and personally supervised it. He expressed his satisfaction over the arrangements made by various committees for the exam.

Pro-VC SU main campus Prof Dr. Abdul Sattar Shah, registrar Dr Mushtaq Ali Jariko, director admissions Prof Dr Ayaz Keerio, Dr Arfana Mallah, Dr Misbah Bibi Qureshi, Dr Hamadullah Kakepoto, Dr Ghulam Sarwar Gachal, Dr Rafique Memon, Dr Khalilur Rehman Khoumbhati, Dr Nek Muhammad Sheikh, Dr Zulfiqar Ali Zaidi, Amar Sindhu, Dr Anila Naz Soomro, Sajid Qayoom Memon, Dr Tania Mushtaq and others accompanied the VC during his visit.

The test started at 10am and lasted 90 minutes.

Separate blocks were set up for the 1,730 female candidates at the Institute of Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology and Institute of English Language & Literature. The 7,510 male candidates were accommodated in the Faculty of Arts, Department of Media & Communication Studies, Department of Zoology, M.A. Kazi Institute of Chemistry and Faculty of Engineering & Technology.

During the first phase of the entry test, the candidates hailing from 16 districts of Sindh, including Dadu, Larkana, Qambar-Shahdadkot, Ghotki, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Kandhkot-Kashmore, Sukkur, Khairpur, Naushahro Feroz, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sanghar, Karachi, Tharparkar, Thatta and Sujawal, besides those from Punjab, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, took the test.

Speaking to the media, VC Kalhoro attributed the smooth, orderly and peaceful holding of the test to the ‘best strategy’ adopted for the major event. He pointed out that holding the test in two phases helped avoid mess owing to a huge number of candidates and also keep the expenses at a lower side.

He noted that the number of candidates this year was higher than in the previous year which showed students’ and their parents’ trust in the standard of education maintained by this institution. He said adequate facilities had been provided to the candidates at the entry test.

“Four new disciplines have been introduced from the academic year 2024 while LLB classes have also been started at the main campus,” the VC said.

Dispensaries were set up close to the exam halls and ambulances were seen parked on the campus to deal with any medical emergency.

A control room was established in the office of the Dean Faculty of Social Sciences to monitor the law and order.

According to Director of the Sindh University Testing Centre Dr Aftab Chandio, the results of the first phase of the entry test will be released the same day.

The second phase will be held on October 29, it was announced.

Published in Dawn, October 23th, 2023