Allegations of irregularities in admission under ‘education quota’ undesirable

For admission to class XI in the upcoming academic year (2025-26), after three rounds of selection, the admission process in colleges and madrasas began on 7 September and will continue until 14 September. Classes will start from 15 September. Yet, even before the process is over, allegations of irregularities have emerged regarding two types of ‘education quota’ in class XI admission. Concerned parties say that due to misuse of quotas many meritorious students will be deprived.

According to the admission policy, there is a 1 per cent quota (Education Quota-1) for the children of officers and employees of the Ministry of Education, and another 1 per cent quota (Education Quota-2) for the children of teachers, officers and employees of offices or organisations under the ministry and of government schools, colleges and offices under the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education. However, despite being separate quotas, many children of officers and employees of subordinate offices have applied under Education Quota-1 and have even been selected.

According to Dhaka Education Board sources, 10,66,163 students have been selected for admission to class XI through three phases of application. Among them, 1,506 students were selected under the freedom fighter or martyr freedom fighter quota, 2,077 under Education Quota-1 and 1,294 under Education Quota-2. Relevant sources said that the matter came to light after the publication of the results of the first round of applications. Afterwards, the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee warned that during admission, a certificate from the concerned office must be submitted. Admission will be cancelled if proper proof of the quota is not provided. But even after three phases, that is after the selection process has been completed, 2,077 students have been selected under Education Quota-1, which is meant for the children of ministry officers and employees, and this clearly indicates irregularity. Because, according to concerned sources, only a handful of children of ministry officers and employees passed the SSC examination this year.

Parents say that in this case clear irregularities have occurred. They say that because of quotas in place of merit and competition, many genuinely qualified students are being deprived. Some of them are unable to get admission into their desired colleges, while students with lower marks have got places in good colleges due to quotas. Because of irregularities in quota selection, this problem will become even more acute.

Naturally, students aspire to get admission into good colleges. In such cases, if these irregularities take place, it is inevitable that meritorious students will be deprived. These allegations from students, parents and education-related individuals must certainly be taken seriously by the Ministry of Education. Such irregularities in the field of education are extremely harmful for the nation’s future, as we have seen in the past. Many times, students lacking merit have secured admission to good institutions through the advantage of special quotas, but could not keep pace with meritorious students. As a result, on the one hand the affected student suffers, and on the other the overall educational environment is also harmed. In such cases, educational institutions and the education administration must carry out their responsibilities with greater seriousness.