Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon today announced that a committee led by the University Grants Commission (UGC) will be formed to expand public university admission opportunities for English-medium students who have completed O-Level and A-Level examinations under foreign curricula.
He made the announcement at a seminar titled "Expanding Admission Opportunities at Public Universities for Students Studying Foreign Curricula," organised by the Alliance of Private English Medium Schools at a hotel in the capital.
The minister said around 1,20,000 English-medium students take O-Level and A-Level examinations every year but face limited opportunities to enter public universities due to the existing admission test system and complications related to equivalence certificates.
Describing the situation as a "system loss" for the country's education sector, Milon referred to India and Pakistan, where policies recognise these qualifications as equivalent to the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC).
He said the government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would formulate a policy based on the committee's recommendations to ensure equal admission opportunities for English-medium students.
Milon also emphasised the importance of strengthening the teaching of Bangladesh's history, Bangla language and culture in English-medium schools.
Prime Minister's Special Assistant to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education Gias Uddin Rimon and UGC Member Prof Dr Abdullah-Al-Mamun attended the seminar as special guests.
Alliance President Md Morshedul Islam chaired the event, which was also attended by several public university vice-chancellors, British Council representatives and educationists.
