Experts: University admission tests using software not yet viable

Experts have said using software to take university admission tests online is not feasible as Bangladesh does not have the capacity at present to do so.

Pointing out network and technical problems, they said most student assessments may not be accurate. On the contrary, it may create confusion among the public.

They were making their views known at a review meeting held at the University Grants Commission (UGC) on Tuesday, a media statement said.

However, if the UGC decided to conduct admission tests with the software, “Proctored Remote Examination System”, they recommended formulating a policy first in this regard.

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Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Digital University (BDU) Vice-Chancellor Prof Munaz Ahmed Noor developed the software and highlighted various aspects of it at the meeting.

He said his software was originally developed to evaluate the internal examinations of the universities. It was not suitable for taking online university admission tests at present.

The experts said no country in the world conducted large-scale testing with a single software.

Saying the software developed at BDU needed further improvement, they said it could play a much more effective role in evaluating current online course exams than the current method.

According to them, this software could be used to take and evaluate small scale examinations at all universities, including BDU.

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UGC Chairman Prof Kazi Shahidullah and commission member Prof Dil Afroza Begum joined the meeting virtually, among others.

Last week, the UGC took the initiative to seek the opinion of experts on the software being used in online admission tests at public universities. 

In addition, the UGC has also initiated integrated or cluster admission tests for public universities in the current academic year. 

On Sunday, the education minister asked the authorities of public universities to conduct admission tests in an integrated or cluster system.