LAHORE, Aug 30: The Punjab government is deliberating on various proposals pertaining to retaining or abolishing entrance test for admissions to medical and dental colleges and the decision will be announced next month.

“Whether to abolish the entrance test or to continue with it, the final decision rests with Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi, who will announce it shortly,” Punjab Health Minister Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal told Dawn here on Thursday. He said a summary in this regard had already been forwarded to the chief minister for taking decision.

The minister further maintained there are two groups; one in favour of the entrance test and the other against it. He said the chief minister could also change the marks’ ratio - obtained in FSc and entrance test - for the admission.

Sources said the Chief Minister’s Taskforce on Medical Education had also sought suggestions from heads of some medical institutions on the issue and forwarded the same to the government.

Those against the holding of entrance test are of the view that it puts the students of under-developed districts at disadvantage in comparison to those from Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan. As students from big cities can benefit from the ‘resourceful academies’, those from the backward areas are deprived of the opportunity, the critics of the test say.

They also mention the question paper `leak-outs’ at some examination centres every year which help the students appearing for the test at these centre secure better marks. They say the present examination body of entrance test should be changed and the task should be given to the varsity, which has affiliation of majority of medical institutions in Punjab. Besides, they say that they see no palpable difference in quality of students before and after the introduction of the test.

On the other hand, the supporters of the test say it is necessary to help curb the rampant corruption in the eight educational boards in Punjab and check the activities of booti mafia. The test also helps evaluate aptitude of a student, they add.

The Pakistan Medical Association has also questioned the sagacity of the government in sticking to the entrance test in spite of the claims that the boards have been purged of corruption.

The entrance test was introduced in Punjab in late 1990s, following reports that the students from underdeveloped areas were granted marks graciously by their respective boards to ensure the representation of the areas.