ERRORS IN MERIT LIST : Colleges fail to start classes on first day

Most colleges failed to start higher secondary certificate classes on the first day of the start of the academic calendar, as the merit list – assigning students to various colleges – issued by the education boards, turned out to contain numerous flaws. On Wednesday, like in the previous two days, several hundred students and guardians shuttled between different board offices and colleges, to address errors and confusions in the merit list. Students and parents alleged the first merit list carried some serious errors, for example, many science students were assigned to commerce subjects. Over 62,000 high-scoring students were not selected for the first merit list as they named only top colleges in their list of choices, confirmed a Dhaka education board official. The official further admitted there were errors in the assignation of another 50,000 students, who would also not be able to take classes on the first day. Education ministry college section deputy secretary Subodh Chandra Dhali admitted that only a few colleges began classes while the majority had failed, attributing the cause to Ramadan, beside the errors in the computerised data processing system. The education boards published the first merit list for enrolment at colleges early Monday after missing three deadlines because of errors in the computerised data processing system. The failure had pushed the start of admissions to July 2 from June 30. Following the new admission guidelines, students had named five colleges as preference in the online application and the education board made the final selection on where they would enroll. This year, 11.57 lakh students applied for admission, and the government uploaded the first lists of over 10.93 lakh students on www.xiclassadmission.gov.bd late Sunday. Authorities at Ideal School and College, Dhaka City College, Monipur School and College, Government Science College, Mohammadpur Central University College said they were yet to complete the admission process, but held orientation classes on the first day. Meanwhile, many colleges are reportedly charging admission fees up to five times higher than the fees set by the government. Education minister Nurul Islam Nahid, while speaking at a programme at National Curriculum & Textbook Board promised to address all problems and ensure all the students are enrolled to colleges. The second merit list is set to be announced on July 6, based on the availability of seats at colleges. Besides, students who are not named in either merit list, will be allowed to register with colleges through a release slip. News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net