Ensuring quality primary education

That girls have outperformed boys in the highest Grade Point Average (GPA-5) in the Primary School Certificate (PSC) and Junior School Certificate (JSC) examinations this year augurs well for the nation's effort at bridging gender inequality not only in basic education but also in other areas. Parents too have reasons to feel elated at their children's performance. Of the total, a little over 93 per cent who cleared the JSC, JDC exams, 53.34 per cent are girls and 46.65 per cent boys. When it comes to securing GPA-5, 57 per cent female students have to their credit the distinction.

The prime minister, who formally announced the results on Thursday, brought to the fore the lingering controversy over retention of the system of PSC and JSC exams. She had strong points to make. She said such examinations boosted self-confidence of children sitting for higher public exams. Earlier scholarship examinations were held in the country in class V and VIII where only a few selected students used to get chance for appearing at these exams. Teachers had given attention only to these students so that they could obtain scholarships. But they had no time to focus on other students and that's why students did not give proper attention to their studies, she pointed out. The prime minister said the PSC and JSC exams helped students to get rid of fear of higher public exams like those of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC).

What is now of crucial importance is an assessment of the GPA-5 performance as such high marks secured in the SSC and the HSC exams did not help students to do well in admission tests for higher classes in recent past. Mass failures in such tests in Dhaka University are a case in point.  But again, one can't say for sure that the 97 per cent of students enrolled in primary education are actually getting their right to education because they are not actually getting quality education to be responsible citizens.

The country needs a comprehensive upazila-basis education plan to bring all children under education and for this more funds need to be allocated for the sector. Local leaders and communities must be involved to ensure quality primary education in their respective areas. The  ministry of education should also devise appropriate methodologies to ensure accountability of primary school teachers who are the key to grooming students. That is why teachers' recruitment must be made strictly on the basis of merit only.  Even then their teaching aptitude has to be complemented by well devised training. School authorities should discourage private tuition by introducing various incentives and rewards for outstanding teaching in classes.

Low quality education limits individual opportunities as well as national goals such as participatory economic development and progress. The nation's resolve to achieve 'education for all' goal by ensuring quality basic education for all is reinforced, taking child as well as human rights into consideration. It is to be noted that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to which Bangladesh is a signatory, have also emphasised on quality primary education as one of its objectives.