THE newly-devised admission system for private medical colleges of Karachi implemented from 2018 by Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) makes a mockery of the previous system.

Under the previous system, students could get admission in their choice of medical schools after passing aptitude tests of the respective private medical colleges and appearing for interviews in Karachi.

For Karachi students, this is a total wastage of their precious academic time which has already been lost, as the academic session starts from January and still the merit lists have not been finalised.

It seems that the new system is a total failure as the admission body which has devised the process is itself scratching its head, thinking what and how to deal with such a complex system of admission which is causing delay in starting the academic year.

Also, owing to different formats of different boards being followed all over the country which has their own grading and marking systems in examinations, the Karachi students are being strictly marked compared to other boards in the country.

When Punjab board students get a higher percentage of marks, compared to Karachi board students who are strictly marked in their intermediate pre-medical examinations, how can this system work on merit?

In my view, the previous system of admitting students to private medical colleges was more systematic and suitable to candidates then the current one.

The JSMU should consider the previous admission system which was more effective and suitable.

Dr Syed Ali Qadri

Karachi

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2019