Facing criticism, the Ministry of Education has canceled the order reserving five percent quota for admission to government secondary schools for family members of those injured or murdered in the July-August uprising.
However, cancelling quota, the ministry instructed to reserve one extra seat in each class and the seat the family members of those injured or murdered during uprising will get the opportunity to be admitted in the seat.
The Ministry of Education issued new order on Monday, canceling the previous order. The order was signed by Musammat Rahima Akhter, Deputy Secretary (Govt. Secondary-1) of Ministry of Education.
Mentioning that fatalities of July uprising, the new order states that another order has been issued, canceling the order issued on February 20, 2025, reserving seats for family members of those injured or murdered in uprising.
The order further states that one seat will be reserved in each class in addition to the number of seats determined for admission through lottery of family members of injured/martyred in the mass uprising.
“In case of determining the seats of injured/martyred family members, a certified copy of the relevant certificate/gadget must be attached with the application form. Along with this, the original copy must be shown at the time of admission.”
In this case, the gazette of martyrs of the mass uprising issued by the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs of the concerned person must be properly verified and the admission process must be completed, it continued.
If the injured/martyred family members are not available, admission will be made to that seat from the merit list, the order furthered, adding; “Under no circumstances can the seat be left vacant.”
When asked about the cancelation of the order, Rahima Akhter said: “We did it on the instructions of the higher authorities. I don't know the reason.”
Department of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) DG Muhammad Azad Khan said: “I am not aware of the new order. We have only uploaded the previous circular on the website as the authority implementing the ministry's instructions. We are not aware of the decision-making and cancellation.”
Earlier, on March 2, the Ministry of Education issued an order on the February 20 memorandum. It said that like the freedom fighter quota, there will be a five percent quota for the admission of children of the families of those injured and killed in the July-August mass uprising in government schools.
That order said that five percent seats will be reserved for the admission of sons and daughters of freedom fighters and family members injured or martyred in the July mass uprising in government secondary schools.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
