According to IBA Karachi data, the university received 7,718 applications for seven bachelor’s programmes, but only 1,584 were admitted.
The entry test for the bachelor’s degree programme at one of the country’s top business universities, the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi, has revealed the country’s educational boards and government education in a deplorable state.
Among those who cleared the IBA’s 2022 entrance test for its bachelor’s programme, only 20 percent were from an intermediate background, while 78 percent of the candidates were A-level students. Overseas boards were represented by 2% of the successful candidates.
A total of 1,244 A-level students passed the IBA entry test for various bachelor’s programmes, while 310 intermediate students and 30 students from other boards failed. According to IBA Karachi data, the university received 7,718 applications for seven bachelor’s programmes, but only 1,584 were admitted.
The BBA programme received the most applications (3,374), but only 424 candidates were admitted. There were 1,476 applications for the BS in accounting and finance programme, and 321 candidates were admitted. There were 1,899 applications for the BS in computer science, but only 240 were admitted.
There were 264 applications for BS economics and mathematics, but only 87 candidates were admitted. There were 322 applications for BS economics, but only 231 were admitted. There were 337 applications for BS social sciences, with admissions granted to 213 candidates, and 46 applications for BS mathematics, with admissions granted to 68 candidates.
Cedar College students submitted the most applications (514), followed by Nixor College (513), Aga Khan School (362), Beacon House School (449), Alpha College (310), City School (252), Lyceum (215), Credo College (137), Highbrow College (125), Sceptre School (97), Commecs College (87), Foundation Public School (72), Lahore Grammar School (73), Generations School (66), Whales College (68), and Adamji Sc. Private candidates submitted 346 total.
Former professor of Aga Khan University and Hyderabad board chairman Dr. Muhammad Memon said A-level was a strong education system that created a knowledge base. He went on to say that the A level required 13 years of education, whereas the intermediate system required 12 years.
The A-level system encouraged creativity, but our system was out of date, he said, adding that the federal board was currently the best in Pakistan. He believed that teachers in the A-level system were specialists, whereas teachers in the intermediate system lacked knowledge, which resulted in A-level students always coming out on top in professional or entrance tests.