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Getting into a “good” high school is life or death. That’s what all teachers have drilled into my classmates and me since they knew what high school was.

“If you don’t get into a good high school, you won’t get into a good college, and then your life will be over!” That’s what they say to us in so many words, imprinting it on their minds and souls.

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But that amount of pressure is placed on the backs of 12- and 13-year-olds. Can you imagine getting up every day, worrying about changing social dynamics, your appearance, puberty, your homework, sports and all of your extracurriculars, social media, and what high school you’re going to? It’s definitely more complicated than the 1980s, folks.

“Sure, but getting into high school all over the country is stressful,” naysayers argue. “Why are Chicago Public Schools students so whiny about it?”

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There is, however, a reason for all the carrying on. Many of them, actually.

CPS has a systemic issue with discrepancies between white and nonwhite high school applicants, causing most top high schools — Walter Payton, Whitney Young and Lane Tech — to have more white students than of any other race. Chicago is a diverse city with no large majority of any race. So why are there so many white students at top schools?

In many cases, white families have more income than nonwhite families, and those families will be able to afford expensive tutoring and test prep classes that less financially fortunate students do not have access to. But this does not mean that students without test prep are less intelligent than students with it; in fact, it implies the opposite.

If students are able to make it into top schools without excessive training, it demonstrates that they are just as smart, and with proper guidance and tools, they would be able to do so much more.

But racial inequality is not the only problem with the CPS high school admissions process.

This year, the High School Admissions Test, or HSAT, had so many technical issues that CPS shut it down for weeks until students could retake it. The normal test anxiety my classmates and I felt was only heightened when they had trouble logging in and they read questions in Spanish, when they don’t even take Spanish as an elective.

This happened due to an issue with the testing vendor that CPS is using. The vendor was new, and the program testing was obviously not sufficient.

Can you imagine being super-stressed about an important test with the knowledge that other students in your class have had extensive test prep while you didn’t even know what to study? It would make an already hard and stressful situation even worse. Stress is known to make decisions more difficult. Nevertheless, everyone has to take the test to go to a “good school.”

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This issue is not new. People have been calling for equality throughout the admissions process for years, but the only thing CPS has done is create the tier system.

In simple terms, the tier system separates you by the economic status of your neighborhood, with tier one being the poorest and tier four being the richest. But this doesn’t break down financial barriers in the way CPS undoubtedly hoped it would. Even in tier one, where the average income is the lowest, those with more money will still have an advantage.

Some people will also move from a house in tier four to a house in tier one, to attempt to beat the system. It works because the student’s tests will be scored based on the fact they “live” in a tier one community.

It’s hard to think of a good solution to this problem. CPS could expand the test to cover more subjects than just math and English, but that would just draw out the testing process and make the test harder to score and study for. CPS could make all of its schools just as good as Walter Payton, but their city is already so deep in debt, and that would be expensive to a fault.

But there is a better solution.

CPS should create free after-school study groups for the HSAT. Teachers would stay after school for an hour once a week or every other week starting at the beginning of the eighth grade school year and ending right after eighth graders take the admissions exam. This would provide an opportunity for children from lower-income families to receive the same test prep opportunities that upper- and middle-income students have.

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Naturally, there will still be unfairness in the system. There are better teachers and more involved parents throughout Chicago. But one extra hour of test prep could mean the difference between getting in to Lane Tech or not.

And of course, this would be expensive. The overtime hourly rate for teachers is about $47.88, and there are around 460 middle schools in CPS. This would amount to $22,024.80 per week. But with how responsibly Chicago spends its money, this wouldn’t be much of a struggle. Chicago spent more than $3.5 million on the 2023 NASCAR race. How much is roughly $22,000 a week?

What is the price that CPS is willing to pay for fair and equal educational opportunities? What is the price of educating the next generation?

Charlotte Badgley-Green is an eighth grader in Chicago Public Schools who is going through the high school admissions process.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

The admission test for medical colleges under 2023-24 academic sessions will be held on February 9.

The one-hour-long admission test will begin at 10am on the day.

All coaching centres will remain closed for a month.

The decision was taken at a meeting on the MBBS and BDS admission tests for the academic year 2023-24 held at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque presided over the meeting.

Representational image.

One experiment after another carried out in the country’s education sector over the years resulted only in failure as questions still plague the sector’s basic standard and quality.

These experiments have been imposed on the mainstream Bangla-medium students in an unjust way, creating tension in the sector, eminent educationists observed and demanded a holistic approach to check the damages.

Since independence in 1971, different curricula have been introduced, methods of holding public examinations have been changed, some commissions were formed and policies have been framed along with a massive infrastructural development taking place to achieve the desired improvement of education which one of the fundamental rights of the people.

In the war-torn Bangladesh, education, religion and culture were brought under the purview of a single ministry in 1972, which in 1974 became education and culture ministry. In 1984, the jurisdiction was changed again for the ministry to become the education, science and technology ministry. In 1993, it became education ministry, while in 2003 a separate primary and mass education ministry was also formed. From then on the education and primary and mass education ministries oversee the country’s institutional educational activities.

The Qudrat-e-Khuda Education Commission, formed in 1972, stipulated in its ‘Bangladesh education commission report’, published in 1974, that the four fundamental principles of the state must be reflected at all levels of education. According to the report, creating a synthesis between the main principles of education and the four fundamental values of the state championed by the 1972 Bangladesh constitution, the aims and goals of education in Bangladesh should be set forth.

Recent changes made to GRE test have streamlined the assessment. The test duration has been reduced to under two hours from its earlier near-four-hour format. This concise version of the GRE underscores ETS’s dedication to refining the test experience for students, without compromising the score's integrity and dependability that global institutions trust. Furthermore, students will now receive their official GRE scores even more promptly, within 8-10 days post-examination.

Global Gateway to Graduate Premier Programs Across Domains

Opportunities for Scholarships and Assistantships

Demonstrating Requisite Skills

Unlocking Career Prospects

Fostering Personal Growth and Tenacity

Summarily, the GRE offers access to multiple graduate programs, and unveils a spectrum of career paths. It is an excellent reflection of test-takers’ proficiency in critical thinking, verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing and hence becoming pivotal in the b-school admissions process.

High school is daunting, for everyone. Soon, you'll finish your HSC or A levels and go out of the predefined structure of school curriculum to venture into an open world of possibilities. There are great options in the country. And if you decide to go abroad, the possibilities are endless. However, navigating the process can seem confusing, and to be honest, a bit scary. There's a misconception that if you want any higher education support service, you have to come to Dhaka. But that is not the case. One such great example is Mentors', a leading student consultancy and prep organisation, which has been successfully helping aspiring students meet their dreams in Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Moulvibazar, Rangpur, and Khulna.

Their journey began in 1996 in Dhaka, where they established themselves with a stellar team of teachers, comprehensive courseware, and an abundance of practice questions to ensure complete preparation. They prioritised interactive classrooms that cater to individual needs, expert advisory panels for unwavering support, and access to all the essential information you need to navigate this crucial journey.

Their success in nurturing students for admission tests at IBA, NSU, EWU, and other universities for programs like BBA, MBA, EMBA, and standardised tests like IELTS and SAT spoke volumes. So much so that their demand crossed cities, leading them to expand their services beyond Dhaka, starting with Chattogram.

"Mentors' Chittagong carries the torch of exceptional standards and outcomes set by its parent branch," says Manzuma Murshed, the founder of Mentors' Chittagong. "Our personalised counselling and tailored support, putting the student at the heart of everything they do, is the secret fuelling their remarkable success. The overwhelming gratitude from their students is the best reward."

Murshed, an inspiration in a city like Chattogram where societal barriers can hold some women back, has spearheaded a positive shift in the local education landscape. Under her leadership, Mentors' Chittagong services are readily accessible, not just through the main branch but also through dedicated helplines, email support, and active social media platforms. They go the extra mile, conducting regular seminars, workshops, and webinars to equip students with valuable insights and updates for their higher education journey.

For a student seeking Mentors' Chittagong guidance, the journey starts with an initial assessment to understand their unique goals and aspirations. This becomes the blueprint for their personalised roadmap, encompassing expert guidance on test preparation, university selection, application procedures, and visa support. They don't just guide; they walk alongside you, offering personalised counselling, assistance with document preparation, and interview preparation to ensure a smooth and successful voyage. No matter your stage in the process, their quality service remains readily available.

Moreover, recognising financial and other hurdles some students face, Mentors' Chittagong extends a helping hand through scholarship programs and mentorship initiatives. They break down barriers and empower dreams, ensuring every student has a fair chance to chase their academic aspirations, wherever they may lead.

When the pandemic hit, Mentors' Chittagong faced a unique challenge like the rest of the world, how to continue their service when no one can meet each other? Without hesitation, they turned to technology. They organised virtual tours and online sessions, and continued their access to valuable information and guidance. And they continue to use technology to provide quality service for students at any time, at any place they are. They provide virtual counselling sessions, online workshops, and webinars. They connect students with alumni and experts from around the world.

And it is no surprise, for ambitious students dreaming of pursuing higher education in international destinations like the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and Malaysia, Mentors' Chittagong has become a trusted navigator. Over the past seven years, their success in guiding to prestigious universities has changed the lives of hundreds of students.

"My passion for education and empowering students to study abroad actually stems from my own experience. When I had the opportunity to study abroad, it completely transformed my perspective and opened up a world of possibilities. I wanted to share that same life-changing experience with others," says Murshed. "You have the potential to achieve great things, and Mentors' Chittagong is here to support you every step of the way. They understand that the journey can seem overwhelming, but with their guidance and expertise, they can turn your dreams into reality. From test preparation to university selection, application assistance to visa guidance, they have the resources and knowledge to help you succeed. So, don't hesitate to reach out to us and let us be your partner in this incredible journey."