University Admission Tests May Be Postponed: Three Vice-Chancellors Share Their Positions

Universities are considering delaying admission tests to allow students who failed the 2026 HSC examinations to sit supplementary exams and become eligible for undergraduate admission. However, no final decision has been made.

Universities have begun preparations for undergraduate admission tests following the publication of the 2026 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examination results. However, discussions have emerged over postponing the tests to give students who failed the examinations an opportunity to sit supplementary exams and qualify for university admission.

Vice-chancellors and senior officials of the Ministry of Health have initially expressed agreement with the proposal. However, the vice-chancellors of Rajshahi University, Chittagong University and Jahangirnagar University have said no final decision has been taken and the matter will be discussed further.

The issue was discussed at a meeting titled 'Discussion on Re-evaluation of Answer Scripts and Holding Supplementary Examinations for HSC and Equivalent Examinations 2026' at the Ministry of Education's conference room on Tuesday (November 3).

Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon attended the meeting as the chief guest. Senior officials from the ministry and its subordinate departments were also present.

According to sources at the meeting, the education minister requested the vice-chancellors to consider postponing the admission tests. Initially, however, they were reluctant to agree to the proposal.

A senior official who attended the meeting, speaking to The Daily Campus on condition of anonymity, said, "All admission tests, including medical admission tests, may be postponed. Although some vice-chancellors and officials were initially unwilling to delay the tests, they expressed preliminary agreement after the education minister requested them to do so."

However, the vice-chancellors concerned have emphasised that no final decision has been made. The Daily Campus spoke to the vice-chancellors of Rajshahi University, Chittagong University and Jahangirnagar University about the possibility of postponing their admission tests.

Rajshahi University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Md Faridul Islam told The Daily Campus, "This is not an issue concerning only Rajshahi University; it should be considered by every university in Bangladesh. We have not received any directive from the Ministry of Education on the matter. It is also not possible for us to keep our examinations on hold indefinitely while considering their views. We have not taken any decision so far. If we receive instructions from the ministry, we will decide accordingly."

Chittagong University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Al-Forkan told The Daily Campus on Tuesday (November 3), "There may be an opportunity to submit an application regarding this matter. However, we have scheduled an admission-related meeting for tomorrow. We will discuss the issue there."

Jahangirnagar University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Md Nurul Islam said, "Dhaka University is going to hold its admission tests first. In that case, it is natural that students will have to wait for admission tests at other universities. However, the opportunity for students who failed the HSC examinations to sit supplementary examinations, improve their results and become eligible for university admission should also be considered."

He added, "The matter will be placed for discussion at the upcoming Syndicate meeting, considering the demands and interests of general students. We will review whether there is an opportunity to take any positive decision for the students."