Legal notice demands ban on primary admission tests, play-nursery-KG and extra books

In the public interest, Supreme Court lawyer Md. Mahmudul Hasan Mamun sent this notice on Thursday (29 October). The Cabinet Secretary, the Secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, the Director General of the Directorate of Primary Education and the Chairman of NCTB were made recipients of the notice. The notice was sent to them by registered post.

In the notice, referring to Article 17 of the Constitution and the Primary Education (Compulsory) Act, 1990, it was said that primary education has been made universal, mass-oriented and compulsory in the country. However, it was alleged that the commercialisation of education is increasing in government and private schools, kindergartens and English-medium educational institutions.

The notice claimed that children aged three to five are being admitted to multiple unauthorised pre-primary levels such as play, nursery, KG-1 and KG-2 and are being burdened with extra studies and books. It demanded that these courses be banned and that only a single government-approved pre-primary class be introduced.

In addition, the notice mentioned that processes such as written tests, selection tests and oral tests for admission to primary schools can create fear, mental pressure and a crisis of self-confidence among children. It demanded that primary school admission tests be completely stopped to ensure children's natural mental development.

The notice further alleged that some educational institutions are forcing children to read extra grammar, exercise and guide books beyond NCTB's main textbooks. It expressed concern that this increases children's study pressure and may harm their physical and mental well-being, thinking ability, imagination and creativity.

In the notice by lawyer Md. Mahmudul Hasan Mamun, it is said that such pressure on children is contrary to the rights described in Articles 31 and 32 of the Constitution and the principles of education and equality described in Articles 17 and 27. The notice further mentioned that additional syllabi, admission tests and the pressure of unauthorised books can create obstacles to children's free thinking and creative development.

The notice demanded that, within the next five days, effective directives be issued to ban unauthorised pre-primary courses, stop primary school admission tests, cancel the registration of educational institutions that impose extra books beyond NCTB textbooks and take strict punitive measures, and form monitoring teams at the district and upazila levels.

The notice warned that if measures are not taken within the stipulated time, a public interest writ petition will be filed in the High Court Division of the Supreme Court under Article 102 of the Constitution for the protection of children.