THIS is with reference to the report ‘PMDC moves to end MDCAT controversy’ (Oct 3), according to which, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) was planning to conduct an independent analysis of the recently held Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT). It is a pity that the entrance test has once again become the source of an annual controversy.

In the 1960s, intermediate examinations were conducted by the universities, and admissions to medical and engineering colleges were given on the basis of marks obtained in the annual examinations.

Subsequently, in the 1980s, separate boards were established at the divisional level in all provinces, and intermediate examinations were conducted by these boards. Admission to institutions of higher learning were based, again, on the results of the annual examinations.

Initially, there were no problems, but gradually ‘copy culture’ and corruption in the intermediate boards damaged the credibility of the examinations, and there was a general perception that transparency in the process had been compromised.

As a remedy, the National Testing Service (NTS) started MDCAT across the country, and merit was determined on the basis of intermediate examinations by the boards combined with numbers secured in MDCAT. This experience continued for a few years, but then failed as the MDCAT papers started getting leaked. Now, the MDCAT is conducted by designated universities, but problems continue.

As per the report cited above, now the PMDC has decided to prepare its own question bank in collaboration with the Inter-Boards Coordination Commission (IBCC) and the Higher Education Commission (HEC). Will it resolve the crisis, and allow merit to prevail?

One wonders why it is not possible to make the intermediate examinations by the boards fair, transparent and trust-worthy. If that happens, there will surely be no loser in the equation. Even if it means involving the armed forces in the process, it will be worth the hassle.

Instead of experimenting incessantly to no end, it is only logical to make the intermediate examinations transparent.

Dr Fateh M. Khan
Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2024