'Backward' Punjab excels in medical entry tests

LAHORE - A report compiled by the University of Health Sciences (UHS) experts on students having passed entry test last year has revealed that average entry test marks obtained by the students from Southern Punjab were much higher than those belonging to Northern and Central Punjab. Surprisingly, no private academies are working in the Southern Punjab, also known for poor education and health facilities as compared to Central and Northern Punjab. But the latter part of the province is hub of private academies that lures thousands of students for the preparation of entry tests and guarantee admission in medical colleges provided the students follow their magical formula. According to the analytical report, 176 medical students hailing from Southern Punjab had passed entry test exams last year. Among them 41 were those who had joined private academies and obtained 948.02 average marks while the remaining 135 students got 979.24 average marks in the test. Similarly, 202 students hailing from Central Punjab had passed the entry tests out of which 133 students had joined academies and obtained 958.69 average marks as compared to 973.42 marks obtained by the 69 students who never consulted any academy for the preparation of entry test. While the average marks of 58 students belonging to Northern Punjab who had passed the entry test were 945.15 as compared to 962.6 average marks obtained by 18 students without getting help from private academies. The aforementioned data shows that preparation of entry tests through academies is no guarantee of getting admission in medical colleges. They lure students with tall claims of having magical formulas that would ensure their place in top medical institutes. The academies are playing with the future of students and their families under the very nose of the Punjab health department. Sources informed that following the announcement of holding entry tests in September this year by the UHS, the private academies business again started as they had planned to charge exorbitant fees from the students during their stay in the academy for five to eight weeks. Many tuition centres in the City have started classes for the entry tests. They will accumulate a handsome amount as no less than 4,000 students are expected to sit in the entry test exams. Such institutes present a festive looks displaying colourful banners to attract the students. They also publish pamphlets and other advertisements offering attractive packages to the students and claim to have entry test guidelines and qualified and trained professors. Join our entry test academy greatly helpful in making your future bright. Do not waste your time. We can give you important tips for solving entry test papers, this is the claim of one of the academies situated in the posh area of Gulberg. Another academy situated in Iqbal Town claims Many Entry test softwares are available in our academy that can help you greatly to solve the MCQs in a limited time. The CDs contains information about pattern of entry tests of approximately all reputed universities.