KARACHI, Jan 31: Students of medical colleges are highly confused over the dates of first and second professional MBBS annual examinations, which would be conducted by the University of Karachi.
Many students called Dawn and stated that they were given to understand that first and second prof examinations would commence on February 4 and 5 respectively, but till date they had not been provided with admit cards or a detailed schedule of examination.
“It is also disturbing that the university has planned to hold the examinations on February 5, a holiday announced by the government to express solidarity with the Kashmiris,” added a couple of second-year female students.
When contacted, controller of examinations at the University of Karachi, Inkesarul Haq, said that the university had not issued any notification regarding the commencement of MBBS examination so far and as such there did not arise any question of holding examinations on February 4 and 5.
He added that the quarters concerned had been approached and the university would be in a position to give a final date regarding the first professional examination within a couple of days.
Investigations revealed that the Board of Studies, Faculty of Medicines, in its meeting had decided on the first week of February for the commencement of first and second professional examinations.
Tentative dates were also leaked to the students verbally or in written form by teachers or some group of students at the two government-run medical colleges of the city, following which students started preparing for the examinations, a senior medical student said.
Dean of medicine, University of Karachi, Dr Aly Hassan Zaidi, told Dawn that certain dates were proposed to the university regarding examinations, but things could not materialise accordingly due to some reasons.
He said that university had not notified the exam dates as the controller of examinations had not received question papers set by the examiners. “What I have gathered from different quarters is that papers would be submitted to the university on Friday, following which the university will carry out the due exercise regarding the commencement of examination”, he said.
When asked, he mentioned that though the university was the sole authority to give the schedule of examinations, he understood that examinations at least would not commence on February 4 or 5.
Sources said that first professional examinations were likely to commence on February 7 or 8, while second professional examinations would commence sometime after February 10.
However, said that the university should announce the dates of the examinations immediately as uncertainty about examinations was causing tension.
ISLAMIC HISTORY: The University of Karachi has announced that the candidates of BA part-II regular or external annual examinations 2001, who want to appear in the paper of Islamic History (Muslim in Spain) should submit the photocopies of their admit cards, latest by February 11 at the public dealing counter of the university, silver Jubilee gate, during office hours.
The examination of Islamic History (Muslim in Spain) would be held on February 13, said a university notification.