THE world, as we see it, is changing day by day. Science and people are constantly evolving.

Over the years, it has been proved that it is not just academic excellence that makes a good entrepreneur or businessman or leader, but non-academic/general knowledge and appropriate aptitude have become essentials to excel in life.

Entry tests play a pivotal role in ascertaining the diversity of students applying for university degrees. Ivy League universities like Yale, Brown University, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Princeton and Harvard require a standardised test score an admission. Similarly, top universities in Pakistan also require SAT, GMAT, GRE and NET scores, without which even the highest academic scorers are not awarded admissions.

In such circumstance, the University of Punjab has abolished entry tests in 10 departments, which will guarantee admission to the high academic scorers but will steal the right to admission for many great brains, who might possess a better aptitude, judgment power or leadership skills.

It is requested to the authorities concerned to reverse their decision and improve the testing mechanism rather than abandoning it.

Muhammad Faizan Shabbir
Sheikhupura

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2019