Experts have welcomed the education curriculum planned by the government, but they see challenges in its implementation and doubt how much the country is ready for the new system, reports bdnews24.com.
The government will roll out the new curriculum in 2022 and by 2025 students will experience a new world of schooling without exams up to Class III, Education Minister Dipu Moni said earlier this month.
The government has added more class work assessments with no distinctions in the streams of science, arts and business studies in classes IX and X.
In line with the outline of the new national curriculum, students will be assessed in classes and have a comprehensive evaluation.
"Learning will be fun. The burden of subjects and textbooks will be less," Dipu Moni said.
The new system aims to wean students off rote learning and focuses on class activities -- a way to deepen the understanding of subjects.
Experts say the changes are much needed for a more effective and reality-based education system, but the government needed more review before bringing big changes.
Professor Serajul Islam Choudhury welcomed the scrapping of exams, saying the move will reduce pressure on students and costs.
"It is wrong to make the students focus on tests, guidebooks and private coaching in the name of public exams."
Father Hemanta Peus Rosario, principal of Notre Dame College in Dhaka, says learning with reduced exams will be fun for the children.
In his words, Primary Education Completion (PEC) exams for Class V and Junior School Certificate or JSC tests for Class VIII 'hampered' study. "These exams gave rise to private coaching. Little children had to take big exams. Without these exams, a lot of time can be saved and be used in the classroom."
"The children grow up in unhealthy competition to become first, second or third. This will go away now, but they will be evaluated," said Shahan Ara Begum, principal of Motijheel Ideal School and College.
Mariam Begum, a professor of Dhaka University's Institute of Education and Research, also sees the scrapping of exams for up to Class III as a good decision, but she thinks the abolishment of the JSC exams will affect the career of many students in rural areas. "Many cannot continue their studies after Class VIII. They would have been able to get a job with the JSC certificate."
Father Hemanta said the blurring of the streams for Class IX and X is a good side to the new system, but making the syllabus is still a challenge, especially for grades XI and XII, because they get only one and a half years to complete college education before Higher Secondary Certificate exams.
He believes the time is not enough for the HSC students of science streams if they do not have a strong basic knowledge of science.
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