Students who recently passed the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations in Khulna are worried for their future. Given the scarcity of seats and rampant admission business, they do not know whether they would be able to get into the good colleges.
According to the Khulna district administration, there are nine government colleges with a total of 5,100 seats. And this year some 7,400 students, who achieved the GPA-5 and GPA-4, are eligible for admission into those colleges.
Though this means stiff competition, the students and their guardians said the process might not be fair because of nepotism triggered by political muscle and financial influence.
Mohammad Atiquzzaman, father of Abid who achieved GPA-5 from Khulna Zila School, said he was tensed for his son’s future. “If he cannot get into a good college, he would not get a chance in a good university. So I am ready to send him to a private college if that is necessary.”
Businessman Gourango Das of Sonadanga Main Road said: “My daughter did not do well in the examination. So I do not know whether she would make it in to a government college. If not, I can’t afford a private institution. She might just have to end up with vocational courses for girls.”
Of the nine government colleges, seven are in the metropolitan area, one is in Rupsha and another one is in Dacop upazila. Out of these, two are only for girls and the rest have a co-education system.
Government BL College has 450 seats, Government Mohila College has 450, Azam Khan Commerce College 336, Government MM City College 900, Sundarban Adorsho Mahabidyalay 850, Pioneer Womens’ College 810, Haji Mohammad Mohsin College 450, Government Bangabandhu College of Rupsha 450 and Dacop’s Government LBK College has 450 seats in total.
Besides these, Khulna Public College, Bangladesh Navy School and College, Khulna Collegiate School and College and Cantonment Public College are also preferred by students. However, these institutions prioritise students from their own schools for admission and hence outsiders cannot get in easily.
Educationist Professor Shadhon Ranjan Ghosh said it was not possible to increase the number of seats in the government colleges right away. “So the emphasis must be given to enhance the quality of private institutions. Proper training for teachers and various facilities are needed for that.”
Professor Abdul Alim, principal of Khulna Government Mohila College, said: “Many meritorious students are deprived of admission due to pressure from political figures and the admission business of student leaders.”
Meanwhile, the principal of Government BL College, Professor Safiullah Sardar, criticised private institutions for charging more money. “They take extra fees for admission, tuition and other unnecessary purposes. That is why guardians don’t want to send their children to those colleges.”
This year a total of 20,766 students took part in the SSC exams and 18,449 of them passed. This pass rate is 88.84% which is less than that of the previous year. Some 1,839 students scored GPA-5 while almost 5,500 got GPA-4.