Dhaka:Education Minister Dr. ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon announced the formation of a committee led by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to expand public university admission opportunities for English-medium students completing O-Level and A-Level exams under foreign curricula.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the announcement was made at a seminar titled "Expanding Admission Opportunities at Public Universities for Students Studying Foreign Curricula," organized by the Alliance of Private English Medium Schools in the capital.
Dr. Milon highlighted that approximately 120,000 English-medium students take O-Level and A-Level exams every year but face limited opportunities for public university admission due to the current test system and issues with equivalence certificates. He described this as a "system loss" for the education sector, contrasting it with policies in India and Pakistan that recognize these qualifications as equivalent to the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC).
The government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, intends to develop a policy based on the committee's recommendations to ensure equal admission opportunities for English-medium students. Dr. Milon also stressed the importance of enhancing the teaching of Bangladesh's history, Bangla language, and culture in English-medium schools.
The seminar was attended by notable figures, including Gias Uddin Rimon, Special Assistant to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, and UGC Member Prof Dr. Abdullah-Al-Mamun. Alliance President Md Morshedul Islam chaired the event, which also saw the participation of several public university vice-chancellors, British Council representatives, and educationists.