The members of the committee on national education pol-icyhavereached a consensus on amending the existing system of SSC and HSC examinations, according to committee sources.

The committee, headed by Prof Shamsul Huq. former vice chancellor of Dhaka University. was formed soon after Awami League came to power in June last year.

The committee having 18-sub-committees with over 50 members, has already received reports from 14 sub-committees and its final report is likely to

be submitted to the Prime Minister by July 31.

Under the existing system, students appearing at the examinations have to pass in all the subjects to get admitted to the next higher class.

Students failing in one subject in these public examinations should be allowed to get admitted to the next class, the sources said quoting recommendations’ of the sub-commit-tees.

These students, however, will have to pass in the subject when the examinations are held next year. In case they fail to pass in the subject, their admission to the next class will be automatically cancelled, it was suggested.

The committee has also reached a consensus on replacing the existing system of merit list by grade system, the sources

A three-tier education system is also under active consideration of the committee. The first tier will comprise class one to class eight, the second classes nine to twelve and the third graduation level and above.

Under the present system, primary level comprises class one to class five, classes six to eight are considered junior secondary level classes nine and ten secondary and classes eleven and twelve higher secondary level. Graduation level begins after that.