Request to suspend UGC’s call for online examination and admission

The Bangladesh Private University Association, an association of private university owners, has requested that the UGC call for an immediate halt to online examinations, assessments and student admissions at private universities. They requested to take a decision to continue digital education in consultation with them in the current situation.

However, the UGC said that in the current situation, their previous position will remain the same. Because it is not possible to take admission and test in this situation.

On April 6, the UGC called for an immediate halt to online examinations, assessments and student admissions at private universities. The UGC had issued the directive as some private universities continued to conduct examinations and student admissions despite the closure of educational institutions to combat coronavirus infection. However, UGC has been encouraging students to take online classes to temporarily cover the loss during the shutdown.

Following the UGC’s call, Sheikh Kabir Hossain wrote a letter to UGC chairman Kazi Shahidullah on Wednesday requesting him to suspend the call and discuss with the representatives of the private university association in the current situation.

The letter argues that many of the world’s leading universities have long been using the full-fledged online system for online admissions and testing. In Bangladesh too, many private universities conduct most of the admission process online. In addition, many universities have installed the latest advanced online testing technology for taking exams during these disasters, which can be successfully linked to the global trend. In the current situation, if it is not possible to complete the education activities as per the semester schedule, on the one hand, as the session cost and the cost of education will increase, the private universities, especially the new universities, will face huge financial losses.

However, UGC chairman Kazi Shahidullah told Prothom Alo on Friday that they have already decided to respond to the letter from the private university association. Their position is that the current situation of coronavirus has worsened. In this case, there is no environment for online examination or student admission. For this, the UGC’s previous call for amendment has not come. Now we need to survive first. So the previous call will remain in force. If the environment is good, the issues can be decided by discussion.

The UGC also said in a press release today that the UGC’s call for a halt to online examinations, assessments and student admissions at private universities would remain in place until further notice.