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Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has allocated Rs 232.1 million to re-conduct the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) in Sukkur. The announcement, made during a Sindh Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, November 6th, 2024, aims to address the issues arising from a recent exam paper leak.
During the Sindh Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister highlighted that the paper leak not only tarnishes the reputation but also threatens the future of the students. “I want transparency in all examinations including MDCAT,” he asserted.
Since 2017-18, MDCAT tests have been held throughout Sindh, including centers in Karachi, Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Sukkur, and Larkana. However, the current disclosure has prompted a judicial intervention by the Sindh High Court(SHC).
Following the controversy, the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi declined to conduct the exam for the Karachi region, transferring all duties to the IBA Sukkur Testing Service (STS).
To ensure a smooth process, the secretary of IBA Sukkur’s testing agency has sent a letter to the Sindh health secretary, presenting a seven-point action plan. This includes the immediate appointment of focal persons from the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and the health department of the province, and an urgent online meeting involving officials from PMDC, IBA Sukkur, universities, and relevant departments.
The STS has claimed that it will start preparing the students for MDCAT only when they get a written commitment on all seven points from the health department. STS clarified it would not be held responsible for delays if the written approval, aligned with the seven conditions, is not received in time.
