Class XI admissions: Irregularities in ‘education quota’
Allegations of irregularities have arisen in Class XI admissions concerning two categories of the ‘education quota’. Stakeholders fear that misuse of this system will deprive many meritorious students of admission.
During the online application process, no documents are required as proof; submission of documents is only necessary at the time of admission to colleges and madrasas.
According to the admission guidelines, 1 per cent of seats (Education Quota-1) are reserved for children of officials and staff of the Ministry of Education, while a further 1 per cent (Education Quota-2) is reserved for children of teachers, officials and staff of institutions and offices under the Ministry and the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education. However, despite being separate categories, many children of staff from subordinate offices applied under Education Quota-1 and were also selected.
For the upcoming academic year (2025–26), admission activities for Class XI commenced on 7 September following the completion of three rounds of selection and will continue until 14 September. Classes are scheduled to begin on 15 September.
Sources confirmed that the issue came to light after publication of the first round of results. The Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee subsequently issued a warning, stating that candidates must provide a certificate from the relevant office at the time of admission. Failure to provide accurate evidence of eligibility would result in cancellation of admission.
Nevertheless, even after completion of all three admission phases, 2,077 students were selected under Education Quota-1 (for children of Ministry officials and staff). This indicates clear irregularity, as sources confirmed that only a handful of such children passed the SSC examination this year.
Parents have alleged serious malpractice, claiming that the quota undermines merit and competition. As a result, genuinely qualified students are being deprived, some unable to secure admission to their desired institutions, while students with lower marks have obtained places in reputed colleges through quotas. They further stated that irregularities in quota selection will worsen the problem.
For the upcoming academic year (2025–26), admission activities for Class XI commenced on 7 September following the completion of three rounds of selection and will continue until 14 September. Classes are scheduled to begin on 15 September.
The matter would be reviewed after admissions are finalised. He further stated that BUET has been tasked with carrying out a technical assessment to identify the irregularities.Professor Khondokar Ehsanul Kabir
The selection process was conducted in three phases under the supervision of the Dhaka Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, with technical support from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). Admission was based solely on results of the SSC and equivalent examinations, without any entrance test. Applicants submitted preferences for 5 to 10 colleges or madrasas, after which admission was determined according to merit, quota (if applicable) and order of preference.
According to the admission policy, 93 per cent of seats are allocated on the basis of merit. Of the remaining 7 per cent, 5 per cent are reserved for the children of freedom fighters or martyred freedom fighters. However, if no eligible candidates are available, those seats must be filled from the merit list. The remaining 2 per cent are reserved under the Education Quota: 1 per cent for children of officials and staff of the Ministry of Education and 1 per cent for children of staff from 28 offices or organisations under the Ministry, as well as teachers, officials and staff of government schools, colleges and offices under the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education. These reserved seats apply to institutions in metropolitan, divisional and district headquarters, subject to candidates meeting the minimum eligibility criteria. In addition to these quotas, some institutions reserve seats under their own policies.
Sources at the Dhaka Education Board reported that through three rounds of application, a total of 1.07 million (10 lakh 66 thousand 163) students were selected for admission to Class XI. Among them, 1,506 students were selected under the freedom fighters’ quota, 2,077 under Education Quota-1 and 1,294 under Education Quota-2.
A teacher at a government college in Dhaka, requesting anonymity, commented that many applicants under Education Quota-1 appeared to be more appropriately eligible for Education Quota-2. This, he noted, could disadvantage genuine applicants for Education Quota-1.
Following the controversy, on 24 August, Professor Khondokar Ehsanul Kabir, Chairman of the Dhaka Education Board and President of the Inter-Education Coordination Committee, issued a directive clarifying that those who had applied without proper eligibility should reapply. However, little change has been observed since the notice. For instance, in the first round, 2,263 students were selected under Education Quota-1, while after all phases, the number remained 2,077. This indicates that many eligible for Education Quota-2 may have applied under Education Quota-1.
When contacted, Professor Khondokar Ehsanul Kabir told Prothom Alo on Monday that the matter would be reviewed after admissions are finalised. He further stated that BUET has been tasked with carrying out a technical assessment to identify the irregularities.