English-medium schools can’t remain outside of ministry rules: Milon
Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon has stated that English-medium schools will continue to operate in the country, but they cannot remain outside the rules and regulations of the Ministry of Education.
He made this remark on Wednesday (April 15) while addressing an exchange meeting with secretaries of SSC and equivalent examination centres in Sylhet. The meeting was organised by the Sylhet Education Board at the Jalalabad Gas Auditorium in the Mendibagh area of the city.
The minister said that several meetings have already been held to bring all English-medium schools across the country under government rules and a regulatory board. “No educational institution can operate outside the regulations of the Ministry of Education,” he added.
Speaking about improving the quality of education, he emphasised that Sylhet should excel not only in remittances or foreign currency earnings but also in education. He suggested forming a “Sylhet Education Trust Fund,” similar to the Zia Foundation, to bring in funds from the United Kingdom for the development of the education sector. In this regard, he sought cooperation from all Members of Parliament from Sylhet.
Expressing concern over “digital cheating” in examinations, the minister said that students often resort to malpractice due to inadequate teaching or a lack of quality education. “Earlier, cheating was mostly at an individual level, but now there are allegations of institutional involvement in some cases,” he said. Considering this reality, the definition of “cheating” is being revised to bring all associated parties under legal accountability.
He further noted that CCTV cameras are being installed gradually across the country to ensure transparency in examinations. This initiative will help monitor activities inside examination centres and contribute to maintaining overall education standards.
The minister stressed that enforcing laws alone is not enough to prevent cheating; the root causes must also be identified. In many cases, poor teaching quality, lack of student preparation, and the pressure of exam-oriented education contribute to the tendency to cheat.
Urging teachers to be more responsible, he said they must ensure proper teaching so that students can participate in exams with confidence. He also emphasised maintaining transparency and consistency in the evaluation of answer scripts.
Addressing issues related to teachers’ welfare trust and pension benefits, the minister acknowledged existing problems, stating that during the previous government’s tenure, approximately Tk 7,000 crore had been embezzled by those responsible, creating budgetary constraints at present.
Among others present at the meeting were Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment and Labour and Employment Ariful Haque Chowdhury; Member of Parliament Advocate Imran Ahmed Chowdhury; Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Sarwar Alam; Vice-Chancellor of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Professor Dr. AM Sarwaruddin Chowdhury; Acting President of Sylhet Metropolitan BNP, Rezaul Hasan Qayes Lodi; and General Secretary Imdad Hossain Chowdhury.