ISLAMABAD, Jan 7: Higher Education Commission (HEC) has standardised admission requirements for M.Phil and PhD courses by declaring Graduate Assessment Test (GAT), as mandatory. Previously, each university had its own rules for admission and there was lack of uniformity.

But many students have complained that because GAT follows international standards, it makes it difficult for graduates of local universities to clear the test.  Students fear that access to higher education in the country which is 0.2 per cent at the moment, could further decrease.

Students of PhD and M.Phil expressed their reservations at a press conference, on Monday, held at the National Press Club.

The introduction of GAT test policy (made mandatory since December 2012) has created a barrier and constraint for the students to get enrollment in PhD and M.Phil, said Aamina Sadaf, a PhD student.

The GAT test should not be the only compulsory requirement to secure admission, there must be some alternative options, demanded Sadaf.

Students said that National Testing Service (NTS) which holds tests had been charging Rs900 for GAT (General) which is mandatory for M.Phil and Rs1,500 for GAT (Subject), which is mandatory for PhD.

NTS was established in July 2002, in response to the express need for a testing service in National Education Policy (1998-2010) and IT Policy of Government of Pakistan.

“There are so many students who appeared in GAT, four to six times but could not pass. I have deposited Rs100,000 for PhD but now my university has instructed me to submit GAT certificate,” a student said.

Another student, Atif Bilal said that there is no system of guidance for the students, so they cannot pass GAT.

“In each test, 25 per cent portion comes from mathematics, 25 per cent from English and 50 per cent analogical. Most of the students have studied mathematics in Urdu, so they cannot understand it in English,” said Bilal.

A student, Mohammad Naveed said that NTS methods to evaluate the aptitude of a candidate are not according to the IQ level of students.

Students demanded that there should be different formats for GAT and besides universities should also be allowed to hold tests and give admissions.

Otherwise, students will have no choice but to go abroad for higher studies.

When contacted, Chairman HEC Javed Leghari said that all over the world similar tests were arranged.

However, if students have some concerns on NTS, it can be considered.

“At the moment there are 7,000 PhDs and 12,000 enrolled students for PhD and they never objected of GAT. Around three years back, HEC had an evaluation of GAT by NTS and we learnt that the quality was excellent. We will check it again,” he said.

Renowned educationist Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy while talking to Dawn said that although it is a positive step to start tests for M.Phil and PhD because there should be merit for students. In Iran, India and other countries there is a very strict system for the admission in higher education.

“As far as NTS is concerned, I have concerns about it. NTS is not a quality department and copied (from websites) question papers are used during exams. There is no professionalism in NTS and the quality should be improved,” he said.