Children must be enrolled in class I without written test: PM

Stressing the fact that education is the basic right, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Tuesday children must be enrolled in class I without any written admission test, reports UNB.

"Whenever a child turns to the age of getting admitted to class I, he or she should have to be admitted to and there's no need to sit for test with printed papers because this is his or her right, not a matter of test," she said.

The Prime Minister made the remarks while addressing the inaugural function of the International Literacy Day 2015 held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city.

Hasina also directed the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education to repair and improve the conditions of the primary schools across the county so that the children could get the scope of admission to schools in their respective areas directly.

Underscoring the need for having area-based schools, she said there is no objection, if the wards of the elite class people study at expensive schools. But it has to be ensured that the wards of the common people could study in government primary schools, for which there is also the need for improving the conditions of those schools.

The Prime Minister also suggested ensuring arrangements for accommodation at schools in the country's hill and char areas.

She urged all concerned to turn the country's huge population into human resources and then human capital to further develop the country as well as expedite the pace of development.

The Prime Minister told her audience that the country's literacy rate reached 71 per cent till June of this year. "Literate mothers could teach their children about health, nutrition, discipline from their early childhood. Not only about literacy, to create accountability for society, the children should be taught from their early childhood and steps should be taken keeping that in mind."