The higher authority is thinking to retain the current system for admission to medical and dental colleges this year considering the view of the stakeholders. Moreover, an advisor of the Prime Minister on health and family welfare affairs told a news media that, he is "not in favour of a change to the current admission system at this moment". Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University's Vice Chancellor Professor Pran Gopal Datta also suggested continuing with the current admission system which is a 100-mark MCQ test, scores of which are added with the SSC and HSC GPAs combined. The powerful Bangladesh Medical Association and Bangladesh Private Medical Practitioners Association leaders also stood by the current system.
Earlier, the Directorate General of Health Services sent their proposal to the ministry eliciting views of medical college principals most of whom also recommended retaining the current system. Questions were raised as the government last year initially scrapped the medical and dental admission tests, but restored them following a court order when student protested. But Health Minister AFM Ruhal Haque during the admission test on Nov 23 last year had said he would stand 'firm' against taking medical and dental entry tests from next year. But he had added that any decision would come into effect only after 'extensive' discussions.
The minister at a press briefing on Thursday also said they would hold the talks and the views of the stakeholders would be considered. Analysts believe the decision will come in favour of admission test this year, an election year when the ruling Awami League will not take any chance with street protests like last year.
Health Advisor Moadasser Ali said: "It will be suicidal for all of us if we change the admission system." He asked authorities not to do 'anything rashly and revolutionary at this moment'. "We will also suggest they (health ministry) take admission test this year and try to find out even better ways (introduce aptitude test) of enroling students (at medical colleges)," Bangladesh Medical Association's former President Professor Rashid-e-Mahbub told a news media.
He said everywhere in the world, except Sri Lanka, 'there is a test' before enrolling students in medical colleges. Professor Mahbub said the medical college entry tests had been continuing in this region since 1835 when the Calcutta Medical College was established. "The modalities of the test have changed over time. But there have always been tests," he said.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services, there are 2,811 seats in the 22 government medical colleges and 4,245 in the 53 private medical colleges.
Earlier, the Directorate General of Health Services sent their proposal to the ministry eliciting views of medical college principals most of whom also recommended retaining the current system. Questions were raised as the government last year initially scrapped the medical and dental admission tests, but restored them following a court order when student protested. But Health Minister AFM Ruhal Haque during the admission test on Nov 23 last year had said he would stand 'firm' against taking medical and dental entry tests from next year. But he had added that any decision would come into effect only after 'extensive' discussions.
The minister at a press briefing on Thursday also said they would hold the talks and the views of the stakeholders would be considered. Analysts believe the decision will come in favour of admission test this year, an election year when the ruling Awami League will not take any chance with street protests like last year.
Health Advisor Moadasser Ali said: "It will be suicidal for all of us if we change the admission system." He asked authorities not to do 'anything rashly and revolutionary at this moment'. "We will also suggest they (health ministry) take admission test this year and try to find out even better ways (introduce aptitude test) of enroling students (at medical colleges)," Bangladesh Medical Association's former President Professor Rashid-e-Mahbub told a news media.
He said everywhere in the world, except Sri Lanka, 'there is a test' before enrolling students in medical colleges. Professor Mahbub said the medical college entry tests had been continuing in this region since 1835 when the Calcutta Medical College was established. "The modalities of the test have changed over time. But there have always been tests," he said.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services, there are 2,811 seats in the 22 government medical colleges and 4,245 in the 53 private medical colleges.
