Even though the government has formally announced to upgrade the primary cycle up to Class VIII by 2018 as per the National Education Policy, 2010, it is yet to take a decision on the annulment of the primary school certificate (PSC) examinations. Sources in the ministry of primary and mass education (MoPME) said the PSC exams would continue as usual until the government takes a final decision on the matter.
On the other hand, sources in the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) said the main instrument for upgrading the primary level up to Class VIII is the curriculum, which is not yet ready. The task would take three years to complete as per the preliminary estimation, the sources added. They said the curriculum for primary students from Classes I to V was based on “learning outcomes”, which was solely focused on the students learning about themselves. The secondary curriculum for students from Classes VI to VIII was “competency based”, which enabled students to understand society and other things.
With the upgrading of the primary level to Class VIII, these two methods would have to be assimilated and this would need a long time. The sources said though no big changes would be introduced in the curriculum of primary classes up to Class VIII, but there would be some changes in the presentation and design. Sources in the MoPME, however, said they could not wait till the formulation of the curriculum and would continue with the PSC exams as usual because there were different matters that would need to be reviewed. For instance, the ministry would have to decide on what to do with the scholarship programme if the government decides to cancel the PSC exams, they added.
Meanwhile, students from different schools in Dhaka and elsewhere along with their guardians have been staging a protest by forming human chains over the past few days. The protesters demanded the cancellation of the primary terminal examinations by 2016. They said the exams could not ensure the quality of education and attract students to schools, but rather made the students and guardians depend on coaching and private tutors in the hope of scoring good marks.
Guardians complained that the PSC exams were hampering the physical and mental development of the children as they were not getting sufficient time to take part in sports and cultural activities.
Member (curriculum) of NTCB, Prof. Md Moshiuzzaman, told The Independent that there was no necessity for the terminal examinations because the most important matter was that students have to learn what they are taught and the learning has to be assessed regularly. “There would be no problem if the PSC exams are cancelled. Students and guardians are running for GPA-% but not for learning,” he added. About the curriculum for primary education up to Class VIII, Prof. Moshiuzzaman said, “We would start the necessary assessment for the curriculum within a month or two months by taking suggestions from educationists, teachers, guardians, students, journalists and other stakeholders.”