For the last few years the pass percentage at the SSC and HSC examps has increased to unprecedented level. As many as 74 per cent of the HSC examinees have passed this year. Tendencies have been noted among the powers that be that higher pass rates equals a corresponding increase in the quality of education. Common sense dictates that it is not quite true. Increasing pass rates do not always determine the standard of education. Similarly, when the pass rates fall, we cannot always say the education standard are deteriorating. The students with good grades in HSC exams are finding it extremely difficult to do well at higher levels. Secondary education system needs total revamp
We need a major overhaul of secondary education to meet the countrys need for skilled, technology-savvy workers. Unfortunately currently the secondary education system is not producing student who can fit easily into a modern,
information-driven economy
Syed Mehdi Momin
For the last few years the pass percentage at the SSC and HSC examps has increased to unprecedented level. As many as 74 per cent of the HSC examinees have passed this year. Tendencies have been noted among the powers that be that higher pass rates equals a corresponding increase in the quality of education. Common sense dictates that it is not quite true. Increasing pass rates do not always determine the standard of education. Similarly, when the pass rates fall, we cannot always say the education standard are deteriorating. The students with good grades in HSC exams are finding it extremely difficult to do well at higher levels.
In fact all the hoopla surrounding the SSC and HSC results means little as the secondary education system is in need of a complete overhaul. A recent report by the World Bank says that although Bangladesh has succeeded in providing greater educational access to its populace, learning is low and unequal. Moreover, there are allegations that the teachers who check the answer scripts get tacit instructions from the higher authorities to evaluate them leniently. And regular reports of question paper leaks make many of the exams virtually meaningless as a test of scholastic aptitude.
Needless to say, to improve the quality of education is a daunting task. The authorities need to come out of their contentment regarding high pass rates and devise a comprehensive strategy to address the problems at schools to improve education.
According to a report published in a vernacular daily most of the SSC and HSC examinations high achievers are not getting minimum pass marks of Dhaka University bachelor degrees admission tests. If this is the case then what is the significance of the huge flood of GPA-5?
We need a major overhaul of secondary education to meet the countrys need for skilled, technology-savvy workers. Unfortunately currently the secondary education system is not producing student who can fit easily into a modern, information-driven economy. What the system is producing is a huge number of generalists who are often at a loss when face with genuine problem solving skills and critical thinking.
There is no doubt that that proper education the key to survival of all civilised societies. It is the only channel through which knowledge and wisdom is translated into the framework of social, economic and cultural aspects of a nation. However over the years, unfortunately, because of sheer lack of strong political will and inconsistency in policies and various other factors, including social and economic issues, this important sector of education remained highly neglected in Bangladesh. In todays world, the benchmark for excellence is education. Moreover, if a country has a distraught academic infrastructure, the chances to survive in current competitive world are slim.
We do not seem to realise that providing affordable education to all is one of the primary obligations of a state. In the developed world, education is the preserve of the state. In USA for example, education till the 12th grade is free. These nations indeed are aware of the role a sound education system can play in their overall development and progress. Our ruling elite on the contrary have more often than not put the issue on the backburner.
Bangladesh needs to consider serious educational reforms. The constitution guarantees educational rights for all its citizens. And primary education was made compulsory in 1992. Yet even today 5-10 per cent of the kids still does not go to any school, let alone finish school. Can we hold their parents responsible for that? Does the state have enough resources to bring up all the families from below the poverty line? If not, the way is through increasing opportunity, providing incentives through making education free, and providing free books; declaring education as compulsory bears no meaning!
As said earlier the brilliant results of the candidates of the various public exams are no indication of improving standards. If effective steps are not taken immediately to ensure quality modern education this country will be left behind and dreams of generations to come will go unanswered.
Unfortunately, despite intermittent attempts at reform,most academics agree that the recent reform that has resulted in holding public examinations for nine-year-olds have done much more harm than good. Bangladeshs system of education is more or less entrenched in an antiquated colonial approach and the curriculum and educational policies remain outdated. Success in schools in this country is based mostly on how much a student has memorised. Knowge is thrust at students, who have devised ways to retain the knowge temporarily, regurgitate it and move on. But this is not the essence of education. An acceptable modern education is one that gives a student the best preparation for life after school. In our working lives, we have to make decisions and solve problems that require creative solutions. Theres little hands-on experiential teaching, critical analysis or independent thinking often considered to be the building blocks of innovation. Further, entrenched disparities exist that prevent all Bangladeshi students from excelling and competing with their peers around the world. In areas where there is strong influence of religious fundamentalists insurgency groups, access to education is either limited or perhaps non-existent. One of the major infrastructures to suffer is schools, which are often damaged during political agitations. Extremist groups who oppose secular or girls education destroy schools and other places of learning and there are reports of even attempting to prohibit girls from attending secular educational institutions.
Government must work to develop wise leadership which comes from opening minds up to opportunities and by paving the way for personal achievement. Investing in education in this way will also help create jobs and enable young people to be more marketable and competitive with their peers around the world.
C.S Lewis once said, The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts. When minds are open innovation follows. By offering students the means to develop skills that will be important to the 21st century global community the country will prosper. The government must create these means by reducing disparities wherever they exist. Public schools must be raised to the same standards as those at private schools. The curriculum must be modernized so that a culture of novelty and creativity can be nurtured. Politicians must recognize this importance so that educational reform will encourage greater support from the voters.
Private schools are flourishing but few, except perhaps those which cater to the elite, provide quality education. Attempts are being made to harness private sector support, including through partnerships and philanthropy, but the scale of the challenge requires a government- approach and political ownership of reform. To counter the challenge posed by private schools and madrasas which fill the gaps of a dilapidated public education sector but contribute to religious extremism and sectarian violence, the government will have to do far more than just increase the number of schools and teachers. Nepotism and corruption permeate the system, including in the employment, posting and transfer of teachers.
In most cases neither the parent nor the teachers due to lack of professionalism are able to guide students properly. Lack of guidance is a very serious problem which students face in our country. Students, due to high expectations of their families and absence of guidance for both the parents and students experience a lot of psychological stress, which has a retarding effect on their growth.
Availability of finance for education needs urgent attention. In most developed countries, if a deserving student is unable to finance their education, they get financing on easy terms, without collaterals. Collateral-free financing can be made available if a robust framework of credit guarantee funds is made operational. Thos who are in charge of the education sector should come up with bold, original ideas. Unfortunately most students fail to internalise or understand what they have learnt. They are not able to apply basic concepts to day to day tasks, whether at school or at home. Bangladesh has great potentials for rapid development if it can improve skills of the huge working-age population in the next decade. But for that to happen, education quality especially at the secondary level must improve.
Fixing the education sector, I believe, needs a realistic approach. The authorities must prioritise education in our country. And by prioritising, I dont mean listing it as a priority for only those who are in power but for the general public. By the way how many times have the top anchors of talk shows even remotely discussed education in their programmes? Or for that matter how many protests or sit-ins have we witnessed in Bangladesh related to reforms in the education sector? The pressure has to come from the public.
More importantly, as long as teaching and grading methods are not revamped, no matter how much money is spent, the students will never attain quality education. There is an urgent need for change in the teaching and evaluation methods in the country across all levels of education. A teacher has to be trained in innovative methods, interactive techniques and approaches to impress the students, to develop their interest in the subject and to arouse curiosity, which is the first step towards learning and acquiring good education. Grading has to be very careful and holistic so that it truly gauges the intellect and aptitude of the students instead of pushing them towards a number oriented rat race of scoring GPA 5 or Golden GPAs. The country needs truly learned people rather than mere degree holders. Another important initiative should be is providing counselling across all levels of education. Education has to have a purpose: defining that purpose is something that the teachers, parents and each student must sit down and discuss. Counselling is perhaps the key aspect of education reforms that must be taken into consideration at the high school and university levels. Unfortunately, in current schools such a set-up doesnt exist. Integrating the component of counselling is the key to education sector reforms that will go a long way towards self actualisation of students and putting them in the right direction based on their interests and job market trends. There is a need to integrate information and communication technology (ICT) in secondary level education in a more efficient manner. Technology is rapidly changing the education structure and infrastructure all over the world and the education system must adapt. Also, teachers attendance and performance could be monitored by integrating the ICT network in school systems. In todays job market, education is synonymous with computer literacy. Getting a degree is not all what education is about. It should be known that the world is now moving towards specialised certification and skill set trainings. Vocational trainings, hence, is a great alternative that can put our youth to high quality work and enable the government to extract value. Training in sectors that link the local economy with global economy is what can create an excellent workforce that can be exported and also used internally.
In America, Europe and most of the developed countries, the emphasis of the states is on developing virtual education systems i.e. provision of education through online networks. The idea of online education is gathering momentum and many online institutions have been set up which offer online courses and online degrees. The education ministry need to focus on developing a strong online education network so that students throughout the country can benefit.
Todays students are living in a different world a world created by the pace of economic globalisation and scientific and technological changes over the past few decades. Increasing global interconnectedness has, in turn, created a need for change in school systems.
The writer is Assistant Editor of The Independent and can be contacted at: [email protected]
