Board toppers flunk varsity test

GCUL plans second round of intermediate admissions to fill seats

LAHORE:

Thousands of students, including those who had secured more than 95 per cent marks in the recently announced annual matriculation examination results, have failed in the admission test of the Government College University Lahore (GCUL).

According to sources, the university has decided to hold another entrance test after around 13,500 of the 15,000 applicants were declared unsuccessful in the first test. The decision was taken because the number of students found eligible was lower than the total seats available in the intermediate classes in the university, the sources said.

The candidates who could not clear the university admission test reportedly included a large number of position holders in the matriculation exam.

A number of students who had secured top grades in the annual matriculation exam held by the nine boards of intermediate and secondary education of Punjab have complained on the social media of the university having set a tough entry test.

The GCUL is one of the top educational institutions of the country where thousands of students from across Punjab and other parts of the country apply for admission to the intermediate classes every year.

A tough competition among the applicants for admission to the university is regularly witnessed but during the past few years the number of students obtaining as high as 95% marks across the province has considerably increased.

As a result, the competition for admission to the GCUL and other prestigious institutions has also become tougher.

The candidates also faced tough selection benchmarks last year but this time only 1,500 of the 15,000 applicants have passed the entrance test.

Some applicants have also demanded that the entry test be organised again in view of the dismal results.

“I secured 96% marks in matric. How is it possible that I was declared unsuccessful in the admission test,” said an applicant, Muhammd Asim, while commenting on the results.

He said the GCUL had reportedly recruited visiting faculty members this year and the new teachers had checked the answer sheets of the admission test. The test pattern had also been changed, he claimed.

On the other hand, a senior official of the GCUL told The Express Tribune, “The situation is more tough for us as we will not be able to fill the announced seats and this may affect the college’s financial position. This is the reason that the administration has decided to organize another entry test this year.”

He said it was a worrisome development that students who had scored as much as 95% marks in the board exams had failed the university entrance test that included questions about basic things. “It is also beyond our understanding how these students got high marks in matriculation,” he remarked.

“However, the situation is disappointing and there is need that the education ministry should review the marking system of the boards,” the official added.

According to the GCUL administration, students may apply for admission till September 8.

When contacted, GCUL Vice Chancellor Dr Asghar Zaidi said, “Students fail because they are not taught to write an essay on the basis of their own knowledge. The majority of them are good at memorising lessons without learning much from what there is in their textbooks. They do not learn anything about a subject beyond a single textbook.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 4^th, 2022.