K-P medical college entrance exam postponed again

The test will now be held on September 30

PESHAWAR: The standardised admission tests for entry to medical and dental colleges on the province were delayed by a week on Wednesday in what is the third postponement for the tests.

Originally scheduled for September 23, the tests will now be held on the following weekend on September 30.

The decision to postpone the tests was taken by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Wednesday in his capacity as the chairman of the Education Testing and Evaluation Authority’s (ETEA) board.

The decision was taken in the light of a summary moved by the K-P Higher Education Department, a spokesperson for ETEA said in a statement.

The official explained that forecast of heavy rains and thunderstorms from the meteorological office for September 23 had prompted the request for change of date.

The difficulty in managing logistical arrangements for the test owing to security measures observed during Muharram was also cited as a reason for the proposed change in dates for the entry test, the official added.

The test will now be conducted on September 30 from 9am to noon at the Islamia Collegiate ground in Peshawar, the Haripur University in Haripur, the grassy ground of Saidu Sharif in Swat, Gomal Medical College’s new building in Dera Ismail Khan, the Abdul Wali Khan University’s Garden Campus in Mardan, the Cadet College in Kohat, and the Malakand University in Chakdarah area of Lower Dir.

Khyber Medical University (KMU) — which was organising the tests — reiterated its commitment to conducting smooth tests.

KMU’s Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Jawad Ahmad said that the varsity was mindful of the extraordinary circumstances that the candidates and their parents have had to face this year owing to multiple re-scheduling of the tests.

He explained that the measures had been taken to conduct the test in conditions which give the candidates the best possible environment to take the test in.

The ETEA had first scheduled tests for July 15 this year but they had to be postponed after heavy storms had uprooted arrangements at the last minute at some test centres in the province.

The test was rescheduled for August 19. The results of this test were declared as null and void by the government after a probe determined that the paper had been leaked on social media in advance. The test was rescheduled for September 23 but was pushed forward again.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 20^th, 2018.