Govt plans online-only college application system

The government is planning to introduce an exclusively online application system for students seeking enrolment in class XI.

The move would mean that students will no longer be able to apply for college through SMS.

The Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee prepared a draft admission policy for class XI in colleges and madrasas, which also includes a proposed increase in admission confirmation fees and the abolition of quotas.

Education Minister Dipu Moni presided over a meeting on the draft policy on Thursday.

Applying for admission through SMS creates troubles for students and so the authorities proposed introducing an online-only application system, said Dhaka Education Board College Inspector Md Harun-Ar-Rashid.

The new policy will see confirmation fees rise to Tk 135 from Tk 130 while doing away with a few quotes.

The Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee proposed to scrap all but the 5.0 percent quota for freedom fighters, 0.5 percent for BKSP students and 0.5 percent for expatriates, said an official of the Education Ministry.

The board proposed to introduce an online application system for admission in a bid to cut down costs and complications relating to the SMS system, he said.

Students can apply to a maximum of 10 colleges or madrasas with a fee of Tk 150. Earlier, the fee was Tk 120 to apply through SMS for each college or madrasa.

The application process will begin from May 10-20 in the first phase. They will be scrutinized between June 27-31 and the result of the first phase of the application will be published on June 8.

The second round of applications will be taken from June 17-20 and its outcome will be published on June 20. The third phase will run between June 23 and 25 and the result will be out on June 25.

The new admission policy will be finalized soon, said an official of the ministry.

The SSC and equivalent exams will be completed by March 12, with more than 2.0 million students taking part in them.