Karwan Bazar:Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon emphasized the government's determination to incorporate English-medium O Level and A Level education into the national mainstream.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the minister expressed his desire to regulate English-medium education during a seminar at a city hotel in Karwan Bazar. The seminar focused on expanding public university admission opportunities for students from both national and international curricula, aiming for a fair and inclusive higher education environment.
The minister criticized English-medium students' lack of interest in Bangladesh's public universities and the limited admission opportunities available to them. He highlighted a recent observation at Jahangirnagar University, where only two out of nearly 1,000 students at an orientation were from English-medium backgrounds.
The minister attributed the low admission rate to both universities and the University Grants Commission (UGC), stressing their shared responsibility. He noted that many English-medium graduates once held significant positions in the country, questioning why current students are not contributing similarly.
Participants at the seminar discussed the challenges faced by students from international curricula in accessing higher education. They addressed issues such as eligibility for public university admission, equivalence of international qualifications, application procedures, and the alignment of admission tests with different academic preparations.
Emphasis was placed on ensuring fair opportunities for all students while maintaining academic standards. The discussion also covered ways to make the admission system more transparent and inclusive, acknowledging differences in content and assessment between national and international curricula. The seminar also considered the entry of international curriculum students into medical colleges, engineering universities, and other higher education institutions.