ACC asks for admission details of 4 city schools

In a bid to curb corruption in school admissions, the Anti-Corruption Commission has asked information related to admission from four reputed non-government schools in the capital.

On December 20, it sent letters to the principals of the schools -- Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, Ideal School and College, Monipur High School and College and Rajuk Uttara Model School and College -- in this regard.

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Signed by ACC Director Mir Md Zainul Abedin Shibly, the letters say a five-member team has been formed to investigate irregularities and corruption during admissions to different classes.

For the sake of proper investigation, the commission asked the principals to submit information on the number of vacant seats from class-I to class-IX, decisions of the committees overseeing admissions and copies of advertisement on admissions.

The anti-graft body has also sought the list of students of different classes who had been selected for admission in 2018.

"Therefore, you're [principals] requested to provide the information by January 1 to the investigation team. It's an urgent matter," reads the letter.

Every year during the admissions, allegations of different irregularities surface with a number of guardians alleging of paying "donations" to get their children enrolled in the renowned schools in the capital.

They also allege that a number of schools in exchange for money get admitted many additional students beyond what they advertise.

One of the reasons behind such irregularities is limited number of "good" schools in the capital against an increasing demand.

Contacted, Ideal School and College Principal Shahan Ara Begum told The Daily Star yesterday that she received the letter. "We'll provide them [the ACC team] with necessary information."

ACC Director General Muhammad Munir Chowdhury said guardians allege that the schools enrolled students, violating rules.

"The surveillance team has been formed to see whether such irregularities had been taken place," he said, adding that if the allegation was found to be true against any of those schools, necessary legal steps would be taken.

He hoped that the authorities of the schools would cooperate with them.