HEC to conduct first aptitude test for admission in undergraduate programs

Islamabad: The higher education commission of Pakistan is set to officially conduct the first aptitude test for the admissions in undergraduate programs of universities; though, HEC has sought the support of educational institutes for the successful launch, an official said on Wednesday.

All the vice chancellors, deans as well as the heads of government and private sector universities have been formally informed seeking their confirmation on permitting the HEC-backed ‘Education Testing Council’ (ETC) to organize the aptitude test during the fall semester of 2017.

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The testing service of Higher Education Commission will be free-of-cost for the aspirants and will organize the admission test in 5 disciplines whereas the registration procedure will be done online, said the official.

In this regard the issues notification states:

“As it was announced earlier at the ETC inauguration ceremony and approved in the first meeting of the council organized on May 06^th, 2017, the ETC will be launching tests for the admission to undergraduate programs from fall 2017 at first in 5 major categories which includes engineering, medical, basic & natural sciences, management sciences and social sciences, arts and humanities.

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The test will be conducted by ETC in all the major cities of Pakistan within the higher education institutions in most transparent and fair environment, registration procedure would be done online and choice would be given to the aspirants for selection of test centre.”

At the same time, Higher Education Commission has also asked for the support of educational institutes in adoption of the ETC together with the adoption of the testing service.

HEC has also asked the varsities to recommend a focal person and provide infrastructure facilities in the educational institutes.

The official furthermore said that the Higher Education commission will take the admission testing fee from government and will have given the funds to varsities to conduct these tests free-of-cost.

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At first, the National Testing Service (NTS) had also showed the concerns over the launch of ETC declaring it against the command of HEC.

Though, the peasants are encouraging the ‘free-of-cost’ service because they do not have to pay for the admission tests repeatedly.