NHRC chairman terms PSC examination irrational, calls for its cancellation

Chairman of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Bangladesh, Kazi Reazul Hoque, has termed the Primary School Certificate (PSC) exam irrational and illogical, and called upon the government to scrap it.

The NHRC chairman made the call at a Stakeholders Consultation meeting,  “Child Rights: Child Ombudsperson,” organized jointly by Brac and the Human Rights Commission at Brac Inn on Sunday. 

“The government has decided to scrap the exams from class one to three and we welcome this decision. We have repeatedly demanded the cancellation of PSC exams too, as we find no rationale for continuing them. The country's people also find it baseless,” Reazul said.

He also came down heavily on private coaching centres and the administration. “Coaching centers are our administrative failure. Most schools run on government money, so how can they run  coaching centres at schools? Why are we not able to control this?” asked Reazul.

Kazi Reazul also urged the government to set up a separate child rights commission and to allocate money for it in the next budget.  

“We have a  child population of 46%. To achieve sustainable development goals (SDG) we have to eliminate child labour from all sectors by 2021 and uproot child labour entirely by 2025. We need to establish an independent institution to protect child rights,” Reazul said. 

In his welcome speech, KAM Morshed, director Advocacy, Technology and Partnership, said: “The National Human Rights Commission submitted a draft  Child Commission Act in 2016, but the process was slowed down due to last year’s parliamentary elections.  

“To protect and address child rights as an institute is necessary, there is no doubt about it. However, preparation for the next budget is underway, and money must be allocated for a child rights commission in the next budget. If not, the process will be delayed further,” he said.