The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday dismissed a petition seeking directives for the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) to postpone the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2020 due to a surge in coronavirus cases.
A division of the SHC directed the PMC to ensure all SOPs in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic prescribed by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the federal as well as provincial health authorities are strictly followed in letter and spirit by students, invigilators and all persons/staff present at examination centres.
A number of students moved the petition in the SHC seeking to delay the MDCAT slated for November 29 due to the pandemic. While the entry test is scheduled to take place on November 29, the PMC announced to hold a special test for students afflicted with the deadly disease on December 15.
Not only the students but politicians had also opposed the decision of the authorities to hold the test despite closing down all educational institutes in the country in the wake of the COVID-19 surge.
“While all educational institutions are closed and exams are being postponed, MDCAT students are being forced to appear for NMDCAT test by PMC. Isn’t [the] safety of medical students & [the] safety of their families not as important? Why the discrimination? Why imperil them & their families?” Maryam Nawaz wrote on Twitter.
Social-activist turned politician Jibran Nasir tweeted that politicians tried their best to present their arguments against the decision.
He urged students to continue studying for the test, which is scheduled to take place on November 29.
“Don’t stop studying for MDCAT on 29th Nov. Court proceedings are not an excuse to be complacent and not prepare for exams since no directions have been given to stop the test on 29th as of now. Hence you are responsible for your own decision whether to study or not,” Nasir tweeted. On the other hand, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan had said that holding the MDCAT is not harmful despite the surging number of coronavirus cases in the country.
“For those comparing MDCAT examination [one exam, of 2.5 hours] with the overall closure of the education sector, here is a graphic to put things in perspective!” Tweeted Dr Faisal.
He added that no activity carries zero risks but clarified that during epidemics, risk mitigation — a strategy to prepare for and lessen the effects of threats — is done.
