The interim government of Pakistan’s southeastern region has announced the re-conduct date for the Sindh Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2023.
The decision comes after the previous exam was marred by a cheating scandal, leading to calls for a retake to ensure transparency in the admission process.
Sindh’s caretaker Health Minister, Saad Khalid Niaz, revealed that the MDCAT 2023 retake would be held on November 19. The examination will be conducted through the Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS).
The minister further disclosed that an investigation had confirmed that the MDCAT 2023 paper was leaked, prompting the authorities to decide on a re-examination.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and other relevant officials will handle the matter, with measures being put in place to prevent such controversies in the future.
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) had earlier ordered the re-conduct of the MDCAT 2023 examinations within six weeks across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following the emergence of the cheating scandal.
The initial MDCAT 2023 was conducted on September 10, but numerous candidates raised concerns over widespread cheating during the entrance exam. Some students had also requested the authorities to re-take the test to ensure transparency in the admission process.
A joint investigation team (JIT) submitted an initial report revealing that an organized group, involving top officials, was behind the illegal act of cheating.
FIRs have been registered against 219 suspects. Last month, several candidates were arrested on charges of cheating during the MDCAT 2023, with police and local administration recovering Bluetooth devices from the students during the test.
The re-conduct of the MDCAT 2023 is seen as a crucial step towards ensuring fairness and integrity in the medical and dental college admission process.
