Admission quota for MPs

Despite graft allegations against lawmakers centring school admissions, the government is set to introduce parliamentarians' quota for enrolment at non-government schools across the country.
It is not clear which students will fill it.
However, the percentage of seats under this quota will be finalised today as the education ministry issues next year's admission policy for private schools.
The policy is going through some changes based on recommendations, including 2 percent quota for MPs, made by the parliamentary standing committee on education ministry, sources said.
Lawmakers pressed for the quota last year as well, but the ministry did not entertain it considering massive irregularities in admissions to private schools in the capital.
The ministry in a meeting yesterday reviewed the policy with Education Secretary Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury in the chair.
Meanwhile, guardians and educationists have strongly opposed the move, saying it will open up a new area of "corruption" as the lawmakers might misuse the quota. Besides, so many quotas will shrink the opportunity for others.
Already, the ministry had imposed 5pc quota for freedom fighters' children and grandchildren and 2pc for the disabled on all non-government schools.
Moreover, private schools in the capital reserve 2pc seats for the children of the ministry officials.
Around 75 lakh students are now studying in more than 18,000 non-government junior, secondary, and secondary and higher secondary schools in the country, according to the ministry website.
Yesterday, the meeting discussed proposed 1pc rise in quotas for children of the officials of education ministry, Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) and education boards, and introducing 1pc quota for the kids of non-resident Bangladeshis.
"Every year, it is alleged that governing body members and lawmakers ensure school admissions of their relatives' kids by abusing power. Now this new quota will institutionalise this practice," said a guardian whose daughter studies at Viqarunnisa Noon School and College.
Rasheda K Choudhury, executive director of Campaign for Popular Education, told this correspondent, "If the government wants to introduce the quota, we will demand that the lawmakers recommend underprivileged children's admission to prominent institutions."
She was present at the meeting yesterday.
Prof Siddiqur Rahman of Institute of Education and Research in Dhaka University said the lawmakers' quota is not acceptable at all. "The duty of the lawmakers is to enact laws. Why should they demand quota? Also, quota system is bad for a democratic country."
Ziaul Kabir Dulu, president of Obhibhabok Oikya Forum, a platform of guardians, said there should be no quota system since it will increase admission trade. "The school admissions should be on the basis of merit."
Briefing journalists after the meeting yesterday, the education secretary said the policy would be finalised today after discussion with the education minister.
At the meeting, the ministry gave a fresh ultimatum to three non-government schools in the capital to return or adjust within 15 days the extra admission fees they charged from students.
Replying to a question, the education secretary said they will take action if the schools do not meet the deadline. Earlier, the ministry had issued the ultimatum thrice.
According to a July 4 probe report of DSHE, Ideal School and College realised an excess of Tk 3.39 crore from 3,049 class-I students while Monipur High School and College Tk 5.23 crore from 3,054 students. Viqarunnisa took Tk 68.17 lakh in excess from 1,627 class-I students.