Students under 11 can apply for sixth grade admission: HC

The  High Court yesterday cleared way for the students under  11 years to apply for admission to class six in government high schools  across the country.

In response to a writ  petition, the court stayed the effectiveness of a government circular  that imposed a condition that the students under 11 years cannot apply  for admission  to class six in public high schools.

It also issued a rule asking the government to explain in four weeks why the circular should not be declared illegal. The stay order will continue till disposal of the rule.

At  the same time, the HC directed the authorities concerned of the  government to extend the time for submitting applications for admission  through online for seven working days, as many students could not submit the applications due to internet and server problems.

The  HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam came up with  the order following a petition filed by Mohammad Mijanur Rahman,  guardian of a student, Ayesha Khanam, seeking necessary directives  on this issue.

Ayesha's application was not accepted for admission as her age was below 11 years.

Petitioner's lawyer Aynun Nahar  Siddiqua told The Daily Star that the education ministry issued a  circular in 2017 that the students who were born after January 1, 2010  cannot apply for admission to class six in government high schools.

According  to two other circulars issued by the education ministry, minimum  ages for admission to classes eight and ten are 12 and 14  years respectively.

Therefore, age of students, who will get admission to class six after attaining 11  years, will be much higher when they will get admission to class eight and  ten according to the 2017 circular and a discrimination involving age will take place, the lawyer said. 

Lawyers  Aneek R Haque and Manjur Elahi Parag also appeared for the petitioner while Deputy Attorney General Tushar Kanti Roy represented  the state.