UET entry tests leaked

For the first time in the University and Engineering and Technology (UET’s) history, the question paper for the entry test was ‘leaked’, Pakistan Today learnt on Sunday. The leak has put a question mark on the performance of ex-army UET Vice Chancellor Lt Gen (r) Muhammad Akram with Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khosa issuing orders to the UET VC to respond over the leak of the paper.
The revelations came as a shock to the 41,000 students who appeared in the exam yesterday, who demanded action against the varsity administration. UET administration cancelled the paper and is yet to announce the new date for the paper. A three-member committee chaired by the Electrical Department Dean Dr Zubair to investigate the matter.
The test: On July 24 (Sunday), 41 thousand students across Punjab, who appeared in the entry test in the morning were informed their paper had been cancelled due to a ‘leak.’
The Bsc Engineering Entry Test was held in UET’s Lahore, Multan and Taxila campus while ten examination centers set up by the administration in three city. Students appeared for four thousands seats, with some family members remaining present outside the test centres. 14,000 students had also come from the far-flung districts of Punjab came Lahore to appear in the entry test center inside UET.
The revelation: The revelation came when students, after giving the test, claimed the paper had been leaked and sold, while speaking to media. They said the paper was sold for thousands of rupees. Speaking to Pakistan Today, a student who appeared in the UET entry test claimed a question paper in blue color had been obtained by some students who claimed they had paid Rs 100,000 for it. He said students in the examination hall were disheartened to find the leaked paper in the hands of other students. He said that the MCQ’s in the admission exam were the same as those in the leaked paper. He said rumours were that a UET professor’s son was selling the paper.
UET student, Shumaila said the UET VC’s claims that the system was foolproof were shameful in light of the revelation of the leak. She said a trust deficit would not exist between students and the UET administration.
‘Complete leak’: A UET faculty member said that the complete paper was leaked and it appeared insiders included those designated to set the paper.
Another UET administrative official said rumours that the paper would be leaked had been raised before the entry test and faculty had asked for full transparency. “However, due to an ex-army man as UET VC, faculty members are silenced,” he said.
UET VC Lt-Gen (r) Muhammad Akram Khan was extended a fourth time to great opposition from academic circles since he was a favourite of the Punjab chief minister. ‘Took all measures’:
UET VC Lt-Gen (r) Muhammad Akram said the UET administration had successfully conducted entry tests for a number of years and had taken special precautions this time around too. He speculated that someone may have taken photographs of a portion of the paper during printing.
He denied that the whole paper had been leaked and claimed that not more than 30 percent of the entry test had been leaked. He said UET still had enough time to conduct a new entry test since intermediate results were due on 25th of August. He said the inquiry committee would compromise senior varsity faculty members.
UET PRO Tanvir Qasim promised a complete investigation into the matter and said the inquiry committee had been instructed to spare none of those found responsible.