13 colleges under Cumilla Board face academic suspension

Academic activities at 13 colleges operating under the Cumilla Education Board have been temporarily suspended following what officials described as an alarming collapse in Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination results.

The decision, which is supposed to affect the institutions' teaching of Class XI and their academic recognition, was communicated through an official letter signed by the board's Controller of Examinations, Professor Runa Nasrin, on March 5.

Officials at the board say the move has stemmed from the results of the 2025 HSC examinations, where a number of institutions recorded pass rates ranging from zero to five per cent. Such figures, education authorities argue, fall well below acceptable standards and raise serious questions about academic oversight within the affected colleges.

Confirming the development, Cumilla Education Board Chairman Professor Md Shamsul Islam said the action was taken against institutions that failed to meet operational conditions and consistently produced unsatisfactory examination results.

"Some of these colleges have not complied with the requirements necessary for maintaining academic activities. In addition, their examination outcomes were extremely poor," he said, adding that the suspension was intended as a corrective step rather than a permanent measure.

According to documents issued by the board, the decision was finalised during a meeting of the examination committee held on January 7 under the chairmanship of the board chairman.

At that meeting, members reviewed the performance of institutions under the board's jurisdiction and resolved to suspend Class XI teaching and academic recognition for 13 colleges whose results were deemed critically weak.

The institutions against which the order was issued include Jindpur Union School and College in Nabinagar of Brahmanbaria, Torabganj High School and College in Komolnagar of Lakshmipur, Cambridge City College in Lakshmipur Sadar, and Nidarabad Union School and College in Bijoynagar, Brahmanbaria. Others on the list are Shaitshala

Adarsha High School and College in Brahmanpara of Cumilla, Suruj Memorial High School and College in Lalmai of Cumilla, Chanpur Adarsha High School and College in Bijoynagar of Brahmanbaria, and Seba Gram Fazlur Rahman School and College in Ramgati of Lakshmipur.

The suspension order also covers Jibgao General Haq High School and College in Matlab Uttar of Chandpur, Chouddagram Model College in Cumilla's Chouddagram upazila, Ajra SES DP Model School and College in Daudkandi of Cumilla, Toha Smriti Girls High School and College in Komolnagar of Lakshmipur, and Sharifullah High School and College in Matlab Uttar of Chandpur.

Professor Md Nurunnabi Alam, inspector (Colleges) at the Cumilla Education Board, said the step followed repeated warnings to the institutions concerned. According to him, several of the colleges had been performing poorly for years, particularly in the Class XI examinations.

Despite earlier notices urging improvement, the authorities of those institutions appeared not to have taken meaningful corrective measures.

"The board had advised them multiple times to address the situation and improve academic standards," he said. "Since there was little visible progress, the committee decided that a temporary suspension would send a clear message to institutions that consistently fail to maintain acceptable results."

He also noted that the order should not be viewed as a permanent closure.

The colleges may resume their academic operations if they meet the conditions set by the board and demonstrate tangible improvement in their management and academic environment.

Education observers say the decision reflects growing concern within regional boards over declining academic performance at some private and semi-private institutions. While the suspension may disrupt admissions to Class XI for the time being, board officials insist the measure is intended to push struggling colleges toward accountability and reform.

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