Guardians demonstrate in Jaldhaka, demand action

Around a hundred agitated guardians of the candidates of Primary School Certificate (PSC) examinations 2015 of different schools in Jaldhaka upazila demonstrated in front of the office of upazila primary education officer yesterday protesting 'intentional delay' in re-examination of the answer scripts of their children.

They alleged that a number of deserving students were deprived of getting scholarship due to corruption by a section of education department officials.

Earlier, they submitted applications before 26 April deadline for re-examination of scripts of their children. The primary scholarship results were published on April 19.

In the upazila, 227 students got scholarship, of them 103 in talent pool and 124 under general quota.

Primary education directorate recently empowered upazila education offices to prepare the lists of scholarship winners in the respective areas and also to re-examine the scripts in case of applications.

The guardians alleged that low quality students were given scholarship in talent pools, depriving the meritorious ones, as the results were manipulated in exchange of money.

"My son appeared in the PSC exam from reputed Dundibari Adorsho Government Primary School in Jaldhaka town. He secured the second position getting average 90% marks in the model test throughout the upazila held a few days before the PSC examinations. But my son's name was not found even in the list of general scholarship achievers," Bulbul Ahmed, father of Istiaq Ahmed Sami alleged.

Another guardian Dr Shakhawat Hossen Shahin said, "My daughter Sayema Hossen Sabah was the first position holder in Class V of Anirban Bidya Tirtho Government Primary School. She did not get scholarship, not even in general quota, although she was able to get admission to famous Viqarunnisa Noon Girls' High School in Dhaka this year with own merit."

Many other guardians like Dr Md Shah Alam, Abdul Malek, Rabiul Islam, Samsunnahar Banu alleged that a few staff involved in result sheet preparation and computer operation showed ordinary students of less familiar schools as scholarship achievers in exchange of bribe while brilliant students were shown to have obtained less marks.

It happened in absence of proper monitoring by concerned upazila primary education officer, assistant primary education officers), they alleged.

The aggrieved guardians mentioned that 35 students of Gar Dharmopal Government Primary School, a low quality school of a remote area, got scholarship in talent pool out of a total 103 achievers in the upazila, making the school the first position holder in the upazila.

The 'impossible' thing happened through bribery, the guardians alleged.

Visiting the school at 11:00am yesterday, it was found that the students were playing and running during the school hours.

"At least five teachers are needed for over 500 students of the school and but now only two including him working here as the third one enjoying maternity leave," said the headmaster.

However, the headmaster claimed that the outstanding result of his students in the PSC examinations is an outcome of his hard labour.

On the other hand, several locals seeking anonymity said the school is running in a chaotic situation.

Assistant District Education Officer Shahidul Islam said, "I will investigate the matter as guardians made complaints. Stern action will be taken if irregularities are detected."