Desk News || A proposal has been put forward to completely abolish the 5% freedom fighter quota in Class XI admissions for the current academic year. Alongside this, the 2% quota reserved for officials and staff of the Ministry of Education and its subordinate departments has also been proposed for abolition. The Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee put forward this proposal with the aim of ensuring 100% merit-based admissions and creating equal opportunities for general students.Preliminary discussions on the matter took place at a high-level meeting held on Tuesday, July 7, chaired by Education Minister Ehsanul Haque Milon. Officials present at the meeting expressed support for abolishing both quotas. However, given the sensitive and publicly significant nature of the issue, a larger meeting will be convened this week involving teacher representatives, guardians, and principals of the country's leading colleges, along with other relevant stakeholders, before a final decision is made following discussions.Officials present at the meeting said the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee had drawn up an admission policy comprising a number of proposals, which was presented at today's meeting chaired by the Education Minister. This included the proposal to abolish the quota system. In addition to the existing method, proposals for merit assessment through admission tests and selection through lottery were also included. However, which method will be finalized may require another meeting.Currently, a total of 7% quota is reserved in Class XI admissions — 5% for children of freedom fighters and 2% for children of officials and staff of the Ministry of Education and related departments. According to statistics from BUET experts, who are responsible for the technical aspects of the admission process, sufficient eligible candidates have not been found under the 5% freedom fighter quota in recent years.According to BUET data, under the government gazette, the minimum age of a valiant freedom fighter is set at 12 years and 6 months, and the minimum age of a currently living freedom fighter now exceeds 80 years and 7 months. Given this reality, it is natural that their children are not being found for college admission. In many cases, grandchildren apply under this quota, but later face complications due to being unable to submit the necessary documents, causing them to lose the opportunity to gain admission to their preferred college despite having good GPAs.Furthermore, the Inter-Education Board views the existence of a special quota for the Ministry of Education and its subordinate departments as direct discrimination. Abdul Khalek, Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, which oversees top-level decisions and future planning, said that when sufficient students are not found under the freedom fighter quota, the seats are filled from the merit list. However, the Education Minister said that the policy change would be finalized based on the opinions of the government's highest levels and cabinet members.Sources at the meeting said that although alternative methods such as admission tests or lottery were proposed, these were rejected at the meeting. To prevent admission-related corruption and various forms of lobbying, it was decided that the admission process would continue to be based on GPA, as before, rather than switching to a lottery or examination system. Emphasis is being placed on making the online and automated admission system in place since 2012 function even more precisely.According to those concerned, if this proposal is implemented, it will ensure 100% merit-based admissions and put an end to the long-standing dissatisfaction among general students regarding admission opportunities.