MDCAT Reform Under Fire: Experts Claim It Harms Underprivileged Candidates

The recently announced “one-week” MDCAT policy has sparked widespread concern among education experts, who argue that it disproportionately disadvantages underprivileged students across Pakistan. The policy, introduced by Mustafa Kamal, mandates that all medical and dental college aspirants take the test immediately after completing their board examinations. However, students face drastically different academic calendars, with some boards finishing exams as early as late May while others continue into late August. This creates a glaring imbalance, giving certain candidates significantly more preparation time than others. Experts warn that the compressed schedule will likely lead to mental fatigue, burnout, and a notable drop in performance, estimating an overall 5–6% decline in MDCAT results. Underprivileged students, who often lack access to extensive coaching and additional support, are expected to bear the brunt of this unfair system. Furthermore, the policy fails to curb the influence of private coaching centres, which will continue operating during regular academic sessions. To ensure equity, specialists recommend scheduling the MDCAT four to six weeks after the conclusion of all board practical exams and aligning the test with a uniform, nationwide announcement of board results, giving every aspirant a fair chance to compete on merit.