A writ petition has been filed with the High Court seeking a ban on admission tests at the primary level, the use of additional textbooks beyond those approved by the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), and unauthorised pre-primary courses such as playgroup, nursery and kindergarten.
Supreme Court lawyer Md Mahmudul Hasan Mamun filed the public interest petition on Monday.
The Cabinet Secretary, secretaries of the Secondary and Higher Education Division and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, the director general of the Directorate of Primary Education, and the NCTB chairman have been made respondents.
The petition seeks an order barring admission tests for students seeking admission to Classes II to V. It also seeks to prevent educational institutions from prescribing commercially published supplementary books beyond NCTB-approved textbooks.
In addition, the petitioner has sought a ban on playgroup, nursery, KG-1 and KG-2 courses operated outside the government-approved pre-primary curriculum.
The petition said the Primary Education (Compulsory) Act, 1990, guarantees children the right to access primary education without barriers to admission.
However, the petitioner claims that the Government Secondary School Student Admission Policy 2027 is exposing children at the primary level to competitive admission tests, which contradicts the 1990 law and exceeds the authority of the relevant authorities.
Such examinations also create fear and mental pressure among children, the petition states.
The petition further alleges that educational institutions are compelling students to use additional guidebooks and supplementary materials in violation of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board Act, 2018.
It claims that some institutions are working with commercial publishers to prescribe extra books beyond the NCTB-approved curriculum, increasing children’s academic burden and adversely affecting their physical well-being, thinking abilities and mental development.
The petitioner also cited the National Education Policy 2010, which provides for one year of pre-primary education.
Despite this, several kindergartens and other educational institutions are running multiple pre-primary levels, including playgroup, nursery, KG-1 and KG-2, outside the government-approved curriculum.
The petition said such practices are contributing to the commercialisation of children’s education and hindering the development of their creativity and independent thinking.
It also raises questions over possible violations of Articles 17, 27, 31 and 32 of the Constitution, which deal with education, equality, protection of the law and the right to life and personal liberty.
The petitioner has sought a High Court rule asking why admission tests at the primary level, the prescription of additional books beyond NCTB-approved textbooks and unauthorised pre-primary courses should not be declared unlawful.
An interim stay on these practices has also been sought until the rule is disposed of.
