The public colleges of the country are still way behind the private colleges. Only one public college secured a place in the top 20 merit list of the Dhaka board, whilst public colleges from other areas are also struggling to secure the first and second positions.
The fact came to light as the education board published a list based on the passing rates and GPA 5 scores, as well as other education indicators, after the result of the HSC and its equivalent exams were published on Saturday.
Analysis of this year's HSC results show that in Dhaka board, Dhaka College, which secured the 10th position, is the only public college in the top 20.
In the Dhaka board, Rajuk Uttra Model College topped the list, Abdul Kadir Mollah City College of Narshingdi stood second, Viqarunnisa Noon College third and Residential Model College fourth.
In other boards also, very few public colleges secured first or second positions. In Rajshahi board, the top two colleges are Rajshahi College and Pabna Cadet College; in Comilla, Feni Girl's Cadet College and Comilla Cadet College; in Jessore, Jhenaidah Cadet College and Military Collegiate School; in Chittagong, Fauzderhat Cadet College and Chittagong College; in Barisal, Barisal Cadet College and Amritalal Dey Collge; in Sylhet, Sylhet Cadet College and Jalalabad Cantonment Public School and College; in Dinajpur, Rangpur Cadet College and Cantonment Public School and College, Rangpur respectively. Educationists said terrorism in the name of student politics was responsible for the poor performances in public colleges.
Educationist Serajul Islam Choudhury outlined three reasons why public institutions are not performing well. He said talented students do not enrol in the public colleges as these institutions do not have good reputations; violent student politics deters enrolees; and irregularities in the recruitment process also deter potential students.
