<i>DU admission rules</i>
I remember the elation I felt at the moment when I learned that I had passed the D-unit admission test of Dhaka University and stood within the top ninety in the merit list. It was no small feat for a student with English medium background and one with no coaching. I was quiet sure I would get English, as I got more than twenty-four and twenty in compulsory and advanced English respectively; which were above the required minimum. But the interview burst my bubble in the worst possible way. Not only was I frowned upon for being from English medium but I was also denied the subject on the sole ground that I did not have English in my A-Levels, the fact that I had an A grade in English in O-Levels didn't seem to prove my competence either. Seriously, not even five percent of A-Levels students take English, but that does not mean they don't want to study it. Since it is not compulsory to have those particular subjects in A-Levels that we want to take in undergraduate level then why this is different for English, which has been the medium of our studies? But while I was denied English, others who had it as a third or fourth choice were taking it up as their more favoured subjects were unavailable. So, they would rather take in reluctant people than eager and capable just because of rules that show little logic. This has happened not only with me but with quiet a few others. As an optimist, I still hope there will be someone who will notice this flaw and take necessary steps to fix it. The recent rules have finally allowed students from English medium to apply for a seat in the university which has been a step much appreciated; but, this particular rule should also be modernised like the international universities where at least seven years in English medium is treated as proof of competency in English.
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