Cumilla Correspondent

Cumilla Education Board has about 150,000 more seats in government and private colleges than general students who want admission in higher secondary. As there are more seats than the number of students, the newly established colleges are afraid of losing their existence due to the crisis as they are unable to meet the requirements of the desired students. Educationists feel that this crisis can be overcome by balancing the admission process and improving the quality of lagging colleges. Otherwise, colleges running with minimum students will exacerbate the crisis by providing substandard environment and teaching.

Cumilla Education Board has 1 lakh 42 thousand 81 students against 2 lakh 57 thousand 460 seats in Class XI in 2024-25 academic year. In this situation, 1 lakh 15 thousand 397 seats of various government and private colleges will remain vacant. Online admission application is going on in 461 colleges of 6 districts affiliated to the board. Even if madrasa or irregular students are admitted in these colleges, a large number of seats will remain vacant in the colleges. That's why many institutions will face crisis if they can't tailor admissions and exams to students as per government policies. There is also fear of loss of registration or MPO in the institution due to student crisis. Educationists think that especially private colleges will suffer more from this crisis.

College Inspector of Cumilla Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board Zahirul Islam Patwari said that the competition among educational institutions to attract students will increase. Good organizations will thrive. And the institutions which cannot provide the necessary services to the students will fall behind.Those who fall behind in this competition will naturally not be able to survive. He also said that the recognition or MPO of anyone can be canceled if the desired students are not found according to the conditions for taking recognition or renewal.

According to Cumilla Education Board sources, the number of seats in 169 colleges in Cumilla district is 92 thousand 355. 51 thousand 39 people have passed SSC this year. There are 41 thousand 316 more seats in this district. The number of seats in 75 colleges of Brahmanbaria district is 39 thousand 765. This year 20 thousand 323 people have passed the SSC exam.

There are 19 thousand 442 more seats. 38 thousand 160 seats in 70 colleges of Chandpur district. 22 thousand 673 people have passed the SSC exam this year. There are more than 15 thousand 487 seats in this district. Number of seats in 60 colleges of Noakhali district is 39 thousand 360. 21 thousand 904 passed SSC. 17 thousand 456 more seats. The number of seats in 46 colleges of Lakshmipur district is 25 thousand 220. 12 thousand 780 people have passed SSC. More than 12 thousand 440 seats. The number of seats in 41 colleges of Feni district is 22 thousand 600. 13 thousand 362 people have passed SSC this year. 9 thousand 238 more seats.

According to the institution heads of government and private colleges, this crisis has arisen due to the establishment of more private institutions than the proportional rate of these students without ensuring the quality. Government colleges are increasing the number of seats at an excessive rate, but the private colleges may face the crisis of losing their existence.

Mrinal Kanti Goswami, Vice-Principal of Cumilla Victoria Government College, said that when it is seen that an institution cannot provide facilities according to the government's policy, then the government will have to take a decision to close those institutions. Or if there are several institutions nearby, there will be a need to move them forward by creating one institution.

Cumilla Commerce College Principal Humayun Kabir Masood said that seats are being increased in every government college - that's why the number of seats seems to be high. So the private institutions will be in crisis. Organizations that cannot maintain standards are sure to be in trouble.

Academicians have suggested some new steps to overcome this crisis. Former Chairman of Cumilla Education Board Professor Jamal Nacher said that backward educational institutions should be brought forward by appointing good teachers. If there are more educational institutions in one place they can be merged. Otherwise the institutions which cannot meet the desired student conditions will be closed down or will create more crisis by admitting students with minimum facilities by resorting to fraud.

According to the board sources, the number of seats in science in class 11 is 72 thousand 490. 57 thousand 519 passed science in SSC. 14 thousand 971 seats will be vacant in science. Number of seats in Manbiki is 95 thousand 940. 39 thousand 972 have passed in SSC. There will be 55 thousand 968 vacant seats in Humanities. 89 thousand 30 seats in business education branch. 44 thousand 590 people have passed SSC in this category. 44 thousand 440 seats will be vacant.