They said the new curriculum of the unified system would further downgrade the quality of education as less stress has been given on science subjects.

The discussion was organised by Samajik Protirodh Committee (Committee for Social Resistance) at Sufia Kamal Bhaban auditorium in the city.

The speakers urged all people concerned to unite against the proposed system for the greater interest of the nation as well as maintaining standard of education.

"Around Tk 500 crore has been wasted in the name of formulating the uni-track system, when there are ample talents in the country to design a suitable education system free of charge," said Convenor of the National Committee to Resist Proposed Unified Education Prof Mohammad Zafar Iqbal.

"A teacher's authority to give 30 percent marks in examination will open a floodgate for commercialisation of education," he observed.

He also stressed the need for expediting the ongoing movement to force the government to withdraw its decision.

Dr Sushanta Kumar Das said, "Without changing madrasa and English medium education, the move to change the secondary education systems will create more discriminations among the students."

He said the proposed system would make the religious studies compulsory for all students while keeping the study of information technology (IT) as an optional subject.

Referring to the distribution of marks for the subjects under the new curriculum, Principal Kazi Faruk Ahmed said the students of Bangla medium would study a science subject like physics or chemistry only for 37.50 marks whereas English-medium students will study the same subject for 200 marks.

It will create more discrimination between the two mediums, he added.

"Without consulting the teachers, students, guardians, or educationists, the education ministry has initiated the steps to bring about such an extremely important change in the secondary education," he said.

Prof M Akhtaruzzaman, former president of Dhaka University Teachers' Association, said religious fanatics have been conspiring to turn the country into a fundamentalist state and the proposed system will only help them in achieving their target.

He said madrasa education should be improved but the government's plan, which will bring down the standard of secondary education, simply cannot be accepted.

Besides, neither the authorities have preparations for the new system nor the teachers have the necessary training to adjust with it, he added.

Dr Yasmin Haque said business studies has been made compulsory though half of the schools in the country do not have the teachers of that particular subject while the students of 1,500 schools, who cannot take science due to lack of teachers, will now have to study science without any subject-based teachers.

"Fundamentalism will be further encouraged if the government introduces the unified education system where religious and business studies have been given more importance," said Selina Khalek, president of Bangladesh Mahila Samity.

The government took such a crucial decision unilaterally, they did not consult with the educationists, said Prof Hayat Mahmud of Combined Social Movement.

Advocate Sultana Kamal of Ain O Salish Kendra, said the new education system is nothing but part of a process to divide the nation in every sector.

"We have started a strong movement so that all ill motives against the progress of the country can be defeated," she said, adding, "We will win in our movement as most of the good people are with us."

Representatives of Udichi, Karmojibi Nari, the Hunger Project, Muktijoddha Prajanma Command and Dhaka Development Forum also took part in the discussion.