PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Tuesday postponed test for admission to public and private medical and dental colleges for the third time over the rainfall forecast further stressing out around 40,000 candidates.

The higher education department has proposed Sept 30 as new date for the test, which was slated to be held on Sept 23.

It moved a summary to the chief minister on Tuesday evening for approval after reports suggested rains in several areas, where entrance test will be held, on Sept 23.

The chief minister is also the chairman of the Education Testing and Evaluation Agency, which will conduct the test.

Etea official attributes development to rain forecast for Sept 23

“I am sure the chief minister will approve the new test schedule proposed by the department,” an official told Dawn.

The first Etea test for admission to medical and dental colleges in the province was scheduled for July 15 but it was postponed until Aug 19 due to heavy rain in some areas.

The test did take place on Aug 19 but it was later cancelled due to paper leak.

The Intelligence Bureau confirmed the paper leak promoting the police to arrest a watchman and a driver for it.

Investigation into the matter is still under way, the official said.

In a report submitted to the higher education department, the IB had suggested the formation of the joint investigation team for looking into the paper leak.

Sept 23 was later fixed for the test but that date, too, was changed on Tuesday over fears of rains.

Now, the text is likely to take place on Sept 30.

The entry test will take place at seven centres to be established at Islamia Collegiate School Ground Peshawar, Haripur University, Saidu Sharif Medical College Swat, Gomal Medical College, Dera Ismail Khan, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Cadet College Kohat and Malakand University Chakdara Lower Dir.

A senior Etea official told Dawn that the Met Office had forecast rains in the province on the test day i.e. Sept 23.

He said the organisation had formally sought a report about the Sept 23 weather forecast.

A weatherman however said the Met Office could offer precise weather report for 24 hours only.

He said there was high likelihood that rain forecast for a week or so would change.

Around 40,000 candidates for the test complained about the frequent change of test schedule for one reason or the other and said they’re stressed out.

They said they’d been busy with extensive studies since Jan 2018 after their academic session ended first for the intermediate examination and then for the entry test.

A parent told Dawn that his son was fed up with the frequent changes to the test schedule.

“Now, he (son) wants the test to take place anyway,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2018