LAHORE: The Punjab University (PU) has abolished the entrance test for admission to its 10 departments, deciding to follow the open merit policy.

The PU had started conducting the tests for admission to its 12 departments out of 73 during the Pervez Musharraf regime. The students were given 70pc weightage for academic and 30pc for entrance test. It often transpired the students with a good academic record would not score well in the test and fail to get admission. They would complain about the test and demand an open merit policy.

The 12 departments and colleges of the PU where the test was mandatory included the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Hailey College of Banking and Finance, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University Law College, College of Information and Technology, College of Art, Design and Architecture and the University College of Engineering & Emerging Technologies.

For admission to the College of Art, Design and Architecture, the entrance test and academic qualifications weightage was 50pc each for academic record and entrance test and interview.

The admission eligibility criteria for BS states, “The candidates holding FA/FSc or equivalent qualification with at least 2nd division and age not more than 24 years are eligible for admission to BA/BSc/BS/BBIT/BCom/BBA/BFA/LLB (5-Years)/B.Arch/or equivalent programs in University of the Punjab/Affiliated Colleges.

“The candidates holding FSc (Pre-Medical with 60% marks) are eligible in Pharm-D as well as holding FSc (Pre-Engineering with 60% marks) are eligible in BSc (Engg.) and age not more than 24 years. The candidate holding 3rd division is not eligible for admission in BA/BSc/BS or equivalent program in University of the Punjab/Affiliated Colleges. Clearance of Pre-Admission Entry Test is mandatory for the admission against merit as well as reserved seats if it having candidates by any Department.” However, foreign/GB/AJK, FATA Sindh and Baloch students were exempted from the entrance test.

PU Registrar Dr Khalid Khan told Dawn only two departments, the College of Art, Design and Architecture and the College of Information Technology, would now conduct the entrance test. He said the test was abolished for upcoming admissions to all the BS programmes, claiming that the administration had taken the step to promote open merit.

“The open merit policy will end all type of objections by the students and anyone who gets good marks in the intermediate can get admission to the university without sitting any test.”

Mr Khan added that the university used to face litigations from the students who would raise objection to the test results.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2019