The primary school dropout rate stands at 20.09 percent while the enrollment rate is 97.07 percent, Primary and Mass Education Minister Mostafizur Rahman informed the House yesterday.

The number of enrolled children is now 1,95,52,979, he added.

Replying to a question of treasury bench lawmaker Mamunur Rashid Kiron, Mostafizur said the pre-schooling system and the midday meal distribution programme have been introduced while new schools are being constructed in villages, which do not have any school, to prevent dropouts.

Answering to a question of Kazi Nabil Ahmed, he said stipends are being provided as well to attract poor students.

Responding to a question about the poor passing rate of this year's Higher Secondary Certificate exam, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid blamed BNP-Jamaat's destructive political activities during the exams.

He also claimed that teachers failed to understand the creative education method which caused the poor results.

Regarding question paper leaks, the minister said they are taking all-out assistance from the law enforcement agencies to prevent it.

Meanwhile Housing and Public Works Minister Mosharraf Hossain informed the House, with Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair, that a total of 4,500 houses were illegally constructed in the capital and the ministry has already demolished the illegal portions of 70.

He said the National Housing Authority did not permit any organisation to construct any housing project filling any canal or water-body but some housing companies by filling low-lying water-bodies are posing threats to water controlling in and around the capital. The government is trying to restrain those companies.