HSC students of three colleges protest against proposed Central University’s ‘schooling model’

Higher secondary students from Dhaka College, Begum Badrunnessa Government Girls’ College and Kabi Nazrul Government College demonstrated on Sunday (7 December) against the draft ordinance and ministry press release for the proposed Dhaka Central University, which is based on a “schooling model”.

Starting at 10 am, hundreds of HSC students gathered at the Dhaka College Shaheed Minar and voiced strong opposition to the schooling model, expressing fears that it threatens the very existence and independence of higher secondary education.

The protesters demanded immediate cancellation of the schooling model and preservation of the separate identity of HSC programmes.

Sources said the HSC students from the three colleges plan to hold an unannounced sit-in and demonstration at the Education Building today without prior notice, in response to the seven colleges’ previously announced programme.

Concerned parties warned that counter-programmes by the two groups of students in the area around the Education Building could create a tense situation.

Tension has further escalated among students following the leak of a Zoom call recording of BCS General Education Association where Dhaka College teacher Rafiqul Alam reportedly discussed a plan to “use students to create mobs” to realise teachers’ demands.

Meanwhile, according to a press release issued on 6 December by the Seven Colleges University Transformation Movement, students from the seven colleges will march towards the Education Building at 11 am today (7 December) and hold a sit-in as part of their one-point demand for swift issuance of the Dhaka Central University ordinance on behalf of the President.