Directive To 24 University VCs To Maintain Cluster Admission System

The Ministry of Education has issued an urgent directive to 24 Vice-Chancellors (VCs) to ensure that their universities continue with the cluster admission system. The directive, sent on Monday, December 23, urges the VCs to confirm their universities' participation in the cluster-based admission process.

This is part of an ongoing effort, with the Ministry having previously sent several letters to the VCs regarding the current situation. Additionally, the Education Advisor also sent a semi-official letter highlighting the inconveniences faced by students. Despite these efforts, some university teacher associations remain opposed to returning to the cluster system.

The urgent directive to the VCs of cluster universities states that the cluster admission system has been in place since 2020 to promote a more efficient higher education process. The system involves public, agricultural, engineering, and science & technology universities, with the goal of reducing financial and mental pressure on students, saving time during the admission process, and ensuring merit-based, transparent, and coordinated student selection.

As a result, the cluster system has gained public trust as a student-friendly initiative. It has significantly reduced travel, accommodation, and other costs for students, and allowed parents to avoid the stress of multiple entrance exams. The system also ensures that entrance exams are based on a standardized question paper.

The directive further notes that 24 universities followed this system in the 2023-24 academic year. However, recently, several universities have expressed plans to conduct separate admissions on their own. If implemented, this would impose additional financial and mental burdens on students and parents and create negative perceptions of the education administration.

The Ministry of Education's directive requests that all Vice-Chancellors reconsider the benefits of the cluster system and ensure its continuation. The Ministry has already held a meeting in the Department of Secondary and Higher Education and issued a letter to continue the cluster system. Furthermore, a semi-official letter signed by the Education Advisor has also been sent. The VCs are urged to take necessary steps to ensure their universities continue with the cluster admission process.

The cluster admission system was introduced to reduce the hardship and costs of students across the country. However, seven universities have already opted out of the system, and several others have indicated their intention to follow suit. Despite this, students have petitioned the government to maintain the cluster system, submitting a memorandum to the Chancellor, President Md. Sahabuddin.

On December 1, the Education Advisor sent a letter requesting the Vice-Chancellors of the cluster universities to adhere to the system. A follow-up letter was issued on December 10, and an emergency meeting was held on November 27 to discuss the cluster admission process. The meeting discussed the positions of universities with larger faculty-student ratios in favor of separate admissions, while newer or less-staffed universities supported maintaining the cluster system. However, no final decision was reached at that time.

The cluster admission process began in the 2020-21 academic year, with 24 universities participating in the system for the 2023-24 session. However, seven universities have already withdrawn from the system for the 2024-25 academic year. These include Jagannath University, Comilla University, and Khulna University, which have announced their own entrance exams. 

Similarly, universities from the Engineering cluster, such as Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET), Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), and Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), have also announced separate entrance exams. 

Additionally, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) has announced its withdrawal from the Agriculture cluster, while the teachers' association at Islamic University (IU) is pressuring the administration to exit the system. Students at IU have also joined in protests demanding the same.