Promoting science education

The 39th National Science and Technology Week began in the capital yesterday. Besides, a three-day long national science and technology fair also began on the same day. SSC and HSC students from all the 64 districts participated in the fair with their innovations. Development of a country cannot be imagined without the advancement of science and technology. It is worrying to note that the number of science students at the secondary school certificate (SSC) level has decreased alarmingly in the past few years. On the other hand, there has been a gradual increase in the number of business education students.

Students’ inclination for business education ignoring science education in this age of science and technology does not augur well for a developing country like Bangladesh. If the present trend of dwindling science students continues, it will spell disaster for the country. The fond notion of students and their guardians that business education will open up for them a bright future does not hold much water. Where is the vast job market for them? There is a need for development of business education but not at the cost of science education. Lack of adequate budgetary allocation, absence of trained mathematics and science teachers, dearth of science laboratory materials and attractive books are mainly responsible for this, according to educationists. The trend of the business education students’ outnumbering the science education students must be reversed forthwith. The reasons for students’ apathy to science education should be identified and measures taken accordingly.

Due to lack of adequate technical education thousands of youths in the country are bearing the brunt of unemployment. They are liability for the government instead of assets. Time-befitting technical education and skills can rid them of the curse of joblessness. There are people who, equipped with proper skills, even do not care for employments, rather they create employments for themselves and others. These people have great demand in their native land as well as in the global job markets. Over the years, hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshis went to different countries, particularly in the Middle East countries, to change their lot. But all of them are not skilled workers. Those who went abroad without equipping themselves with the requisite skills are doing menial jobs.

The government should take some pragmatic steps in this regard. More allocation for science studies in the national budget, rigorous training for mathematics and science teachers, establishing well-equipped laboratories can encourage students to study science. The relevant department and the ministry concerned can also announce some incentive packages for students willing to study science.                       

Promoting science education

The 39th National Science and Technology Week began in the capital yesterday. Besides, a three-day long national science and technology fair also began on the same day. SSC and HSC students from all the 64 districts participated in the fair with their innovations. Development of a country cannot be imagined without the advancement of science and technology. It is worrying to note that the number of science students at the secondary school certificate (SSC) level has decreased alarmingly in the past few years. On the other hand, there has been a gradual increase in the number of business education students. Students inclination for business education ignoring science education in this age of science and technology does not augur well for a developing country like Bangladesh. If the present trend of dwindling science students continues, it will spell disaster for the country. The fond notion of students and their guardians that business education will open up for them a bright future does not hold much water. Where is the vast job market for them? There is a need for development of business education but not at the cost of science education. Lack of adequate budgetary allocation, absence of trained mathematics and science teachers, dearth of science laboratory materials and attractive books are mainly responsible for this, according to educationists. The trend of the business education students outnumbering the science education students must be reversed forthwith. The reasons for students apathy to science education should be identified and measures taken accordingly. Due to lack of adequate technical education thousands of youths in the country are bearing the brunt of unemployment. They are liability for the government instead of assets. Time-befitting technical education and skills can rid them of the curse of joblessness. There are people who, equipped with proper skills, even do not care for employments, rather they create employments for themselves and others. These people have great demand in their native land as well as in the global job markets. Over the years, hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshis went to different countries, particularly in the Middle East countries, to change their lot. But all of them are not skilled workers. Those who went abroad without equipping themselves with the requisite skills are doing menial jobs. The government should take some pragmatic steps in this regard. More allocation for science studies in the national budget, rigorous training for mathematics and science teachers, establishing well-equipped laboratories can encourage students to study science. The relevant department and the ministry concerned can also announce some incentive packages for students willing to study science.