Dhaka: Stressing the need for reforming the admission process in the public universities, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said a credible admission process can help lessen hassles and check wastage of time and money.

"Reform in admission process at tertiary level is now the demand of the time because huge money and time are wasted in the present admission process," he said while speaking at a workshop on 'Report of Admission System for Undergraduate Course in Public Universities' at the UGC auditorium today, said a press release.

Organised by University Grants Commission (UGC), Education Secretary Dr. Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury attended it as the special guest while UGC Chairman (State Minister) Professor AK Azad Chowdhury presided over it. Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique, Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University, was also present.

UGC Member Professor Dr M Muhibur Rahman presented the keynote paper.

Speaking at the workshop as the chief guest, Nurul Islam Nahid urged the country's leading academics to make the admission process easier and hassle-free for the admission seekers and guardians. Students are getting inclined to coaching centres because of the existing admission system, he observed.

UGC Chairman said that selection process to get students admitted should be made easier to get rid of the additional burden of examinations.

Highlighting the potentials of the country's youth force, AK Azad Chowdhury said that there are almost nine crore youth force in Bangladesh. "The country could enormously benefit if we can equip them with updated knowledge and skills," he added.

Professor Dr. Mohammad Mohabbat Khan, Professor Dr. Abul Hashem, Professor Dr. Md. Akhtar Hossain, Professor Dr. Abdus Sobhan, BUET VC Dr. S M Nazrul Islam, Jahangirnagar University Vice -Chancellor Professor Anwar Hossain, Mommad Zafar Iqbal of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology and Dr. Md. Khaled, Secretary, UGC, among others, were present on the occasion.

Ends/AMA/22/01/13