SSC marks, not admission tests

The Supreme Court yesterday cleared the way for the country's institutions, except Notre Dame College, to admit students in class XI for the current academic year based on their Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam marks.
The SC's Appellate Division modified a June 2 High Court order which stayed for six months a government decision to admit students into colleges for 2013-2014 academic year based on the marks instead of holding admission tests.
The Ministry of Education had issued a circular on May 16 to this effect.
The HC, following a writ petition filed by Notre Dame College, had also issued a rule asking the government to explain why the circular should not be declared illegal.
A five-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain said the institutions, except Notre Dame College, were not required to hold admission tests.
The SC passed the order after disposing of an appeal moved by Attorney General Mahbubey Alam on behalf of the government against the HC order.
Within hours of the order, Dhaka Education Board published a list of students selected for admission to Class-XI in colleges under the board.
“We've sent the lists to the colleges which have gone for online admission,” Dhaka Education Board Chairman Taslima Begum told The Daily Star, adding that colleges enrolling students manually had posted the list on their respective noticeboards.
Of the 950 colleges under Dhaka Education Board, 222 colleges are enrolling students online while the rest manually.
The bench also ordered the lawyers for the writ petitioner and government to take steps so that the rule is heard and disposed of at the HC in four weeks.
Notre Dame College authorities have already completed admission process after holding examinations, said Barrister Tamim Hussain Shawon, representing the college. Dr M Zahir also appeared for the college.