Viqarunnisa Noon School and College admitted an additional 443 students in 2019 from class one and nine; none of the forms had the signature of the principal. In this incident, the acting principal was given a show-cause notice.

Show-caused Hasina Begum responded: “Additional students were admitted without my signature on the forms and this was done due to collusion among governing body members, the president and certain teachers.”

Though it’s apparent that governing body members were linked to this, the show cause notice given only to me has to be rationally assessed, she said.

If necessary, my own hearing should be done and I should be exonerated, she said.

Hasina Begun further adds: “I was not linked to the admission process which began on 6 January while my appointment as acting principal came on 13 January. During performing my duties, I protested the excess admission of students and did not sign admission forms as it seemed unethical.”

After applying for the principal’s post, I was relieved from the post of acting principal on 28 March.

Reportedly, additional student admission at Viqarunnisa is done through top-level lobbying, DO letter and at the pressure from the members of the governing body.

Education ministry sources say that to legitimize additional admission, the process to hire a permanent principal was hastened.

The acting principal, Hasina Begum, lodged a complaint highlighting the aberrations of the committee, based on which the committee was cancelled by the ministry of education.