The education community has voiced criticism against the Military Council's announcement stating that students who did not pass the university entrance exam in the 2022-2023 academic year will not be permitted to attend school in the upcoming academic year.
The Military Council made an announcement stating that the students who appeared for the exam in the 2022-2023 academic year were following the old curriculum. They were examined for the final time in March, and those who did not participate or did not pass the exam will not be permitted to continue their education.
The statement mentioned that those who are not allowed to attend school but wish to retake the exam will have the chance to do so under the new Grade 12 curriculum. Whether they have studied on their own or attended external courses, they will be given this opportunity.
A teacher who joined the CDM expressed criticism of the military council's actions, stating that they go against the established education policy. The teacher pointed out the challenges faced by students and parents in studying and taking exams outside of school. They emphasized that these actions are putting an end to the children's education.
"We understand that students in the previous grading system had the opportunity to fail for up to three years. If they failed within that time frame, they were given the chance to retake the exam based on the old 10th grade system. It's important to acknowledge that students who failed the old system may face difficulties in studying outside of the new 12th grade system. This situation is challenging not only for students but also for their parents. Additionally, there are concerns about the qualifications of students who fail to pass the Military Council's examination. The Military Council will no longer consider them as students. They won't care about students' education.”
A teacher from a private school said, "Only children with a genuine thirst for knowledge will willingly return to school. If you wish to pursue self-study under the new Grade 12 system, you may be granted admission, but physical attendance at school will not be permitted. While the old and new systems have some similarities, they diverge significantly. Only 20 percent of the content remains unaltered, while the remaining 80 percent introduces fresh challenges. It appears that students who are already acquainted with the new system will have a greater likelihood of succeeding in it." The teacher criticized the military council's decision to deny education to students who did not take the exam or failed it. This decision was an attempt to exclude students from the old system and prevent their transition to the new system. The teacher also expressed concerns about the negative impact on students who failed the exam, as it would deprive them of further educational opportunities.
In contrast, the Military Council passed the Private Education Law on May 12 as a means to exert control over the education sector. This law mandates that the appointment of teachers and the curriculum must receive their approval. Non-compliance with these regulations can lead to imprisonment and fines. The teacher criticized the military council's decision to deny education to students who did not take the exam or failed it. This decision was an attempt to exclude students from the old system and prevent their transition to the new system. The teacher also expressed concerns about the negative impact on students who failed the exam, as it would deprive them of further educational opportunities.
Another teacher explained that according to the statement, students who did not take or failed the last exam, would not be permitted to attend school. This situation could be challenging because the new and old systems are different, and students may be compelled to study outside of school without the opportunity to attend classes.
"As a result, it may be very tough for them. They will have to learn everything again to adapt to the new system, and this can be quite difficult considering factors like age, time, and finances," she said.
The teacher from the private school also highlighted the difficulty and complexity of the new system. The Military Council's decision to prevent failed students from attending school and obliging them to study independently outside of school, is seen as practically unattainable. Moreover external courses and schools are often costly, making it challenging for many families to afford enrollment.
According to information provided by the Ministry of Education under the Military Council, there were over 170,000 applicants nationwide for the 2022-2023 academic year's exam. Out of these applicants, only 130,000 actually took the exam.
