Aspiring doctors of Balochistan

HUB: The admission test of Bolan Medical College was held a few days ago by the National Testing Service (NTS), which was based on new material, instead of the old material that many students had been preparing for years. It must be remembered that this is the only medical college in the entire province of Balochistan, with 3,000 candidates appearing in the test. They all came from different districts of the province and were all very talented and intelligent students.

This change in the test, of course, left many students deprived of career opportunities and closed the doors of medical education upon many people. These candidates have been preparing for this test for more than three years but this sudden change in the syllabus for the test has made a mockery of their efforts. Many of the students have now lost the heart to study any further. The NTS should have given the test based on the old course, which students had studied and worked hard day and night. Now all their hard work and outstanding preparation seems to have gone to waste with their careers hanging in the balance. Many of the candidates who appeared in the test were taking it for the third or fourth time, since there is no other way one can enroll in a medical school in Balochistan if one does not clear the test in their first attempt. This is the kind of effort and determination that the students demonstrate. It is unfortunate that their hard work has been undone by the reckless policy of the people who run the NTS, who seem to have little regard for the students’ aspirations, efforts and time.

I request the authorities to look into this matter and facilitate the aspiring doctors of Balochistan, considering the fact there is a pressing need for more medical professionals in the province.

Ejaz Ahmed Magsi

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2014.

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