Changes in secondary education on cards

The government is going to make major changes in secondary education to ensure quality. It will cover the curriculum, textbooks and the exam system. There are plans to introduce a unitary set of questions for all education boards. Education minister Nurul Islam Nahid said this at a press conference at the Secretariat in the capital yesterday (Monday). He was presenting recommendations made by academicians, writers, teachers and other stakeholders.
He said: “We're still far behind in ensuring quality education. It’s a big challenge. Educationists and other stakeholders made a number of recommendations to bring about changes in secondary education after a recent meeting. We will follow those suggestions.”
The minister also said changes would be made in selected books of Class IX and Class X to make them readable, attractive and simple. Students would get these books in 2018.
“There are suggestions to drop subjects like physical exercise, health science and sports, fine arts and career education from the public exams and the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exams to reduce pressure on students and also save time,” he added.
These subjects can be brought under regular assessment at the school level, he said. There is also a recommendation

to include reading books as part of co-curriculum activity to encourage students to read books at the school level. A day of the calendar can be regarded as “Reading Books Day”, the minister said.  A committee, comprising eminent educationists and others, can be formed to review the curriculum of 2012.
 An item bank, whatever the name may be, can be formed for ensuring quality MCQ and creative questions, and all teachers should be involved in formulating questions and evaluating answer scripts.
 “A complete teacher will not only take classes, but also formulate questions and assess answer scripts,” noted Nahid.
 A recommendation said a unitary set of questions can be formulated for all education boards by 2019, the minister said.
 For standarisation of the exam system, the experts recommended introduction of a “standardised score”, instead of “raw score”, for publishing results to synchronise with the exam system of the world. As this is a new matter, it can be discussed elaborately, the minister said.
 “The Bangladesh Education Development Unit (BEDU) will publish the results of the SSC exams in 2017,” he added.  Finally, the academicians recommended adequate budgetary allocation for education, as it is the indispensable condition for ensuring quality education, he said.
 Chowdhury Mufad Ahmed, additional secretary to the education ministry, displayed a presentation on the necessity of bringing about changes at the secondary level.
 The chairman of the Bishwa Sahitya Kendra, Prof. Abdullah Abu Sayeed, said: “We’ve tried our best to make changes in books of the secondary level. The books should be readable. They should not be ambiguous or have spelling problems. They should be attractive. Only then will students be able to read them without any hiccups. If the books are not readable and attractive, elements like coaching centres and guidebooks would appear to help. It’s not desirable. Experts will write the books and writers would make them readable.”   Prof. Muhammed Zafar Iqbal said: “It’s suspicious when a lot of students get GPA-5. There should be a standard score, so that really meritorious students get the right number. Only then will it be justified.”  The executive director of Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE), Rasheda K Choudhury, said: “We hope the government will implement our recommendations. If they are adopted, the tendency for coaching and guidebooks will be reduced.”  Education secretary Md Sohrab Hossain and other senior officials of the ministry were present on the occasion.

 

Changes in secondary education on cards

The government is going to make major changes in secondary education to ensure quality. It will cover the curriculum, textbooks and the exam system. There are plans to introduce a unitary set of questions for all education boards. Education minister Nurul Islam Nahid said this at a press conference at the Secretariat in the capital yesterday (Monday). He was presenting recommendations made by academicians, writers, teachers and other stakeholders. He said: Were still far behind in ensuring quality education. Its a big challenge. Educationists and other stakeholders made a number of recommendations to bring about changes in secondary education after a recent meeting. We will follow those suggestions. The minister also said changes would be made in selected books of Class IX and Class X to make them readable, attractive and simple. Students would get these books in 2018. There are suggestions to drop subjects like physical exercise, health science and sports, fine arts and career education from the public exams and the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exams to reduce pressure on students and also save time, he added. These subjects can be brought under regular assessment at the school level, he said. There is also a recommendation to include reading books as part of co-curriculum activity to encourage students to read books at the school level. A day of the calendar can be regarded as Reading Books Day, the minister said. A committee, comprising eminent educationists and others, can be formed to review the curriculum of 2012. An item bank, whatever the name may be, can be formed for ensuring quality MCQ and creative questions, and all teachers should be involved in formulating questions and evaluating answer scripts. A complete teacher will not only take classes, but also formulate questions and assess answer scripts, noted Nahid. A recommendation said a unitary set of questions can be formulated for all education boards by 2019, the minister said. For standarisation of the exam system, the experts recommended introduction of a standardised score, instead of raw score, for publishing results to synchronise with the exam system of the world. As this is a new matter, it can be discussed elaborately, the minister said. The Bangladesh Education Development Unit (BEDU) will publish the results of the SSC exams in 2017, he added. Finally, the academicians recommended adequate budgetary allocation for education, as it is the indispensable condition for ensuring quality education, he said. Chowdhury Mufad Ahmed, additional secretary to the education ministry, displayed a presentation on the necessity of bringing about changes at the secondary level. The chairman of the Bishwa Sahitya Kendra, Prof. Abdullah Abu Sayeed, said: Weve tried our best to make changes in books of the secondary level. The books should be readable. They should not be ambiguous or have spelling problems. They should be attractive. Only then will students be able to read them without any hiccups. If the books are not readable and attractive, elements like coaching centres and guidebooks would appear to help. Its not desirable. Experts will write the books and writers would make them readable. Prof. Muhammed Zafar Iqbal said: Its suspicious when a lot of students get GPA-5. There should be a standard score, so that really meritorious students get the right number. Only then will it be justified. The executive director of Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE), Rasheda K Choudhury, said: We hope the government will implement our recommendations. If they are adopted, the tendency for coaching and guidebooks will be reduced. Education secretary Md Sohrab Hossain and other senior officials of the ministry were present on the occasion.