Flawed admission criteria of University of Sindh

University of Sindh, one of oldest ones in Pakistan, calls applications for admission in various disciplines at the end of every year. So has it now. But, due to COVID 19, it is yet to decide if it would conduct the entrance test or would sort out an alternative. Considering the fact that, by now, people have adapted themselves to live with the virus, it is most likely that varsity would go with its previous policies. If alternatives such as online test or viva would not do the job as they have failed in other institutions also , traditional policies, in all those years, have not shown any positive outcomes either.
Let’s assume that university keeps the policies unchanged, aspirants would fill admission forms keeping around 25 disciplines out of 56 in their priority list. Aspiring candidates will judged for admission on different factors like how much they score in the test, what grades they had obtained in their previous classes and if they have any quota or not. The test which is conducted is same for all disciplines except for a handful of departments such as textile and electronic engineerings, art and design, and LLB. Next to test, previous grades play 40% role to determine that in what discipline one deserves to study in. Quotas, including female quota, hafiz Quran quota and University employee quota, also count.
Entrance test- a major determining factor to get enrollment- is the greatest impairment of admission criteria. As aforementioned, test is same for more than fifty entirely different disciplines. This visibly suggests that all the candidates are tested on same skills no matter whatever they intend to pursue as major in university. This tells how conveniently university is denying the fact that different disciplines require different skills. Additionally, if someone keeps English language and literature at top of his priority list he is expected to have firm grip over science subjects like Mathematics and Physics despite of the fact that he will never use those concepts in the entire academic session. Hence, test is not sufficient to tell if a candidate is ready to join certain discipline for higher education or not. On the contrary, institutes like Government College University Lahore which conduct Department oriented tests can judge students on better grounds.
Moreover, all students, not matter whatever discipline they pursue as major, are required to write academic essays for the almost all the courses in University. But, quite surprisingly, university does not take any writing test. Therefore, when students are asked to write essays they get baffled. So, they end up plagiarizing. Astonishingly, University doesn’t find it troublesome. At the other hand, universities such as LUMS and Habib which conduct essay test can ensure better performance of students during their academic session.
An other troubling problem with Sindh varsities admission criteria is its deep disconnect with applicants. University is interested in aptitude; but nowhere would one find a sign that university is interested in individual also. It doesn’t bother to ask applicants even fundamental questions like: why they want to join certain discipline? And what motivates them to apply for Sindh University particularly? And what do they expect from varsity in turn? If such basic questions are neglected no one will know if applicants are really interested in the disciplines they are joining. And what if they are joining university only under societal pressure. If they are not interested, what contribution will they make! That is to say, if statement of purpose and interview are included in admission criteria, university will be in better position to know the individual and hence to produce more efficient workforce.
Apart from entrance test, depending on previously obtained grades to such a great extent is not wise either. It is an open secret that some higher secondary schools especially in rural areas of Sindh encourage cheating in exams. At the same time there must be some colleges which discourage it. That means: students who cheated in exams have greater chances to get enrolled in their desired departments than those who did not. Even if it is assumed for a while that no one cheats in exams and all are graded on merit without any discrimination, still applicants shouldn’t be judged on their previous scores. As they are also grades of the subjects which they will never use in any of their courses ahead. IBA Karachi, for instance, does not consider grades. Hence, all equally meritorious get selected.
When it comes to admission criteria, what else could discourage merit more than Quota system? As aforesaid, certain number of seats are reserved for various quotas. Let’s take an instance, for BS English language and literature number of reserved seats is 17. Which only means university could accommodate seventeen more meritorious students if quota system is abolished.
Conclude it to say, the fault, dear Brutus, is not really in applicants but in admission policies. What must university do then! All it has to do is to look upon matter little more seriously. Few practicle suggestion are presented here. First, different tests should be conducted for different disciplines. Second, Essay , SOP and interview should made part of procedure. Last but not the least, open merit should introduced that every one may get