Sindh to Reconduct MDCAT as KP Upholds Retest Decision

Karachi: Following the footsteps of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the Sindh government on Tuesday also took the decision to re-administer the Medical and Dental College Admission Tests (MDCAT).

Sindh's Caretaker Chief Minister, Maqbool Baqar, has issued directives to annul the results of the previously conducted MDCAT exams. Consequently, he has mandated the Dow University to oversee the re-administration of the entry tests for medical and dental colleges. Additionally, the Caretaker CM has instructed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to launch an inquiry into the alleged irregularities surrounding MDCAT 2023.

The new date for the entry tests will be announced shortly, as indicated by the Caretaker CM.

Recently, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) delivered its verdict in a case concerning the medical college admission test (MDCAT) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

The PHC upheld the KP government's decision to conduct the medical college admission test once more within a six-week timeframe.

In its written verdict, the high court acknowledged that the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) had unveiled instances of cheating during the Medical and Dental College Admission Tests (MDCAT) in KP. In light of the JIT's findings, the KP government had opted to re-conduct the MDCAT exams. The high court's verdict emphasized that the court would not interfere in the matter once it had received approval from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet.

While endorsing the decision, the PHC ordered that the MDCAT tests be conducted within six weeks, in accordance with the cabinet's directives, and stressed the importance of ensuring transparency.

MDCAT Paper Leak

Last month, Sindh's interim government initiated an investigation into reports suggesting that the question paper for the Medical & Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT), held on September 10, had been leaked beforehand.

The caretaker health minister pledged that the investigation into the matter would be expedited. He also vowed strict action against those responsible for the act.

The committee overseeing the investigation is expected to submit its report to the secretary of the health department within a week. It comprises various members, including the registrar of the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi; the additional secretary of the Sindh Universities & Boards Department; a deputy secretary from the Sindh government's Services Wing; a grade-18 official representing the cybercrime director of the Federal Investigation Agency; and the deputy secretary (technical) of the health department.