<i>CEB move to end admission rush</i>
Chittagong Collegiate School upgraded as college, seats increased at colleges
Chittagong Collegiate School.Photo: STAR
Chittagong Education Board (CEB) has increased some 600 seats in four leading colleges in the port city this year to tackle the rush of admission seekers. Besides, Chittagong Collegiate (pilot) School, a century-old school in the port city, has turned into an intermediate school. The ministry of education upgraded the school along with six other schools in the country as school and colleges on July 22, sources said. The school authorities started distribution of admission forms on July 23 to enroll 160 students in the intermediate classes under science and business studies groups for 2008-2009 academic year. Eighty students would get admission in each group. Grade Point Average (GPA) 4.5 would be required for science group and GPA 4.0 for business group. The form distribution continued until July 30 and submission beginning today (July 31) would continue until August 2. Names of the selected students will be published on August 3 and admission will start from August 4. Chittagong Collegiate School is one of the 10 leading schools, the education ministry selected for introducing intermediate classes in 2006. A project of Tk 28.30 crore was taken for developing infrastructures and other facilities for raising these schools up to intermediate level by December this year. Collegiate School has arranged classes in a five-storey building with 16 rooms constructed in front of the old school building and infrastructure has been developed at a cost of Tk 1.81 crore. Headmaster Aziz Uddin said, “Of 58 teachers, 39 with masters degree are efficient enough to take intermediate classes.” “We would have at least 16 teachers to take classes at intermediate level alongside the classes they are taking for science and business students at secondary level,” he said. Besides, to ease the tension of guardians and students CEB will introduce one more section of 150 students at Government Commerce College, Government Women’s College and Bangladesh Navy College from this academic year. Introduction of a section of 150 students at Pahartali College is also at final stage, CEB Chairman Prof Mohammad Yusuf told the Daily Star on July 23. There are only 26,000 seats in 42 colleges, including five government colleges in the port city, against 39944 students who passed the SSC examinations under CEB this year. Refuting the allegation of seat crisis, Prof Yusuf said there are 85,360 seats in colleges under the board. Seat crises arise when the students crowd the leading colleges to be enrolled, he said. He said they, however, respect the dreams of the students and understand the concern of their guardians and are trying to increase the seats in the colleges in the port city.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments