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To the Editor
The merit lists
Sir, The Daily Star recently published a series of articles on the financial anomalies of the Education Boards. It is not difficult even for an outsider to see that these organisations have basic moral deficiencies which can only be remedied by a strong governing body made of respectable persons from without who can give the boot where required.
The merit lists published by the Boards are a well-known sham. Almost every year, it appears that only one or two institutions get practically all the positions. This year, too. the recently-published list for the HSC Examination contains names from virtually two. Are there no good students in the other colleges? If these two colleges do enroll the brightest students, why do they fare much less impressively In the admission tests of BUET. the universities and the medical colleges? Why do their latter stage teachers speak contemptuously about their obtaining full-marks in the practical examinations at HSC without having actually done any experiment?
The commercial use of the merit list by the teachers of these preselected institutions has brought them fame and also wealth in the form of coaching fees and undisclosed amounts of donations' for help in admission. It is certainly a very credible accusation that these teachers influence where the scripts of the different institutions are sent. Despite computer coding, the centres of the different colleges are known to the Board, and the liberal examiners are assigned for the centres where the favoured students sit. Even the most out-
standing students of other colleges are examined by indifferent or in confident examiners giving low or average marks to play it safe.
The clustering of merit positions can be statistically proved to be a systematic bias. In addition. there are many instances of extraordinary facilities enjoyed by individual students who are : 1) On related to the Board officers. 11) come from rich or very influential families, or, iii) have persistent parents hounding the Board. The son of a former Controller, not known to be very intelligent, secured a merit position. The daughter of a multimillionaire construction firm owner greatly Impressed her classmates by telling them, quite accurately, her unexpectedly high marks one full months before the supposedly untouched by human hands' computerised results were announced. One boy who did exceptionally will both in SSC and HSC was later discovered to be a cheat when he was expelled from a College Board (of USA) test held here. His determined father had visited every examiner, with help from the Board, to ensure his results, and many would recall the press conference held by the angry 'second' boy.
The Education Commission has correctly recommended that merit lists should be abolished. For the purpose of distributing scholarships there can be a separate Scholarship Examination similar to those at earlier stages, which would ensure a fairer evaluation on a smaller scale. Meanwhile, the media can play down the importance of this controversial list. There are probably more deserving students outside the
lists than in them.
B Rahman
86 Nasiruddin Lane. Dhaka
Diana and Dodi:
Victims of a great tragedy
Sir. People all over the world stood still with shock and disbelief hearing the news of the untimely and violent death of Princess Diana.
She had suffered terribly in her married life with Prince Charles and only a year ago they were divorced. She was beginning to find happiness with Dodi Fayed, who was also killed in the car accident.
A close friends of Diana revealed that the Princess was exceedingly happy in the last few months of her life and was looking forward to a blissful existence. If is a great pity that her hope was not fulfilled.
Accidents happening in this way belles Imagination. Who knows what mysterious circumstances contributed to this fatal accident!
Though Diana and Dodi could not stay alive to live together. they at least died together. May be their souls will be together in the other world. May the blessing of Allah be with them.
Nur Jahan
East Nasirabad. Chittagong
Making Friends and Hubble's Eye's
Sir. I support the suggestion by Raat (Rising Stars, Tl.9.97) for introducing a section designed for young people to make friends. But. I think is should
not be completely based on the "phone-friends" idea. For. those people who do not have access to a telephone, will be left out. Accommodate both types.
This proposed section should be interesting and attract various types of people. If you need any help starting out 1 would be happy to assist.
As a starter, maybe you could put this in the new sections — The article. "Through Hubble's Eyes" (Rising Stars. 11.9.97) by Rumana Tasmin Khan was interesting. J am interested in Astrophysics and everything to do with the Cosmos. Maybe. Rumana Khan also shares similar interests. Could contact or be contacted.
AMM
Dhaka
Justice
Sir. Half a dozen senior officials including chief executive officer of Chittagong Steel Mills lost their Jobs in August '75. I had the opportunity to work with them as a colleague and neighbour and as a I can vouch for their honesty and sincerity.
Unfortunately they were victimised politically Again, another half a dozen officers of the mill were sent to Jail directly in connection with the trial of the then Deputy Prime Minister in 1982.
Fortunately, they were released soon. Under the above facts, it is time to compensate those innocent victims of polit leal jealousy by giving compensation money while money should be realised from wrongdoers in the name of Justice and fairness.
Mohammad AU 121/4 Elephant Road Dhaka 1205