Poll mayhem hit 553 institutes

As many as 553 educational institutions were affected by the violence over the Jan 5 parliamentary election, Education and Primary and Mass Education Ministers told Parliament on Sunday.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 16 Feb 2014, 04:58 PM
Updated : 16 Feb 2014, 04:58 PM

They said more than Tk 78 million had already been allocated for their repair.

Activists of the BNP-led 18-Party alliance had allegedly vandalised and torched institutions that were to be used as the polling centres before and during the elections.

To a question by Moazzem Hossain Ratan MP, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said 125 institutions – 87 secondary schools, 12 colleges, and 26 madrasas – under his ministry had been damaged.

He said the institutions had suffered a loss of Tk 22.5 million.

Responding to another query from Ratan, Primary and Mass Education Minister Mostafizur Rahman Fizar said 428 primary schools had been affected.

He said more than Tk 55 million had already been allocated and over Tk 30 million disbursed for repair work.

To a supplementary question by MP Abdur Rahman Badi, Education Minister Nahid said, “At present exams stretch over a long period. My personal opinion is that there should be evaluation system for the examinees. Exams should be held in one day or two.”

He said the government had plans to reduce examunation time but the long-standing system could not be replaced immediately.

Replying to a query by MP Faridul Haq Khan, the Minister said the government planned to establish a technical school in every Upazila and a technical school and college for women students at every divisional headquarters.