Cadet college education deserves due importance in new education policy
Saturday, 10 October 2009
Md. Masum Billah
CADET colleges historically provided quality education to the young. There is no denying that many top class civil and military officials were and are cadet college products. They are also successful professionals in many other fields. But the draft education policy somehow is silent about the cadet colleges. The system of education and discipline taught in the cadet colleges make their students better organised and more hardy. The cadet colleges, more like the British public schools, provide an environment of learning and discipline which are offered by no other institution in the country. Education and training provided by the cadet colleges prepare the students to face the challenges of life as they come. At less costs the cadet colleges produce far better and capable citizens than the more expensive English medium schools.
In a cadet college the students learn, early in life, living in dormitories. Coming from different parts of the country and various strata of the society, they get to know the Bangladesh perspective. Interaction with others and eating in dining halls make them socially positive. They learn social and table manners early in life. The grooming helps them carry on with dignity in any sitting. The admission tests could be held in all the districts instead of in Dhaka alone.
Indoor and outdoor games they play boosts their self confidence. A cadet college student must either play or watch the games and sports. Students in the other institutions do not have comparable opportunities.
Regular competitions in debates, public speaking, poetry reading and other positive activities boost the student confidence at the cadet college. These activities increase their fluence equally in Bangla and English.
The cadet college authorities should set up at least one cadet college in each district for the benefit of the meritorious but less privileged.
The seats in each class could be increased to at least 100 or 150 from 50. Many girls cannot seek admission because of the shortage of seats in only two girls' cadet colleges, one at Joypurhat and another at Feni. More cadet colleges for the girls would be a good idea.
A separate education board for cadet college education would be a pragmatic idea for promoting the inexpensive public schools.
The cadet college faculty members could be transferred to other cadet colleges as well as the other defence academies for the army, navy and air force. The faculty members would then better enjoy their work. The government college teachers can be sent to military academies on deputation. This should not be different to do. Working with defense personnel provides an excellent opportunity of learning so many things of national relevance. Education core officers, who teach in military academies, should also be transferred to cadet colleges. Promotion of faculty members should not be on seniority alone. After certain years of service, the cadet colleges faculty members should be given the opportunity to sit for promotion test to evaluate merit and ability. The existing system depends only on length of service, which is not a reasonable system of promotion.
Cadet colleges, first introduced in Germany during the Bismark days, were adopted by Napoleon Bonaparte for France. Military personalities and the royalty preferred to send their children to cadet colleges, for education and later a military carrier. Pakistan had its first cadet colleges in Punjab in 1954. Bangladesh's Faujderhat Cadet College was established in 1958. Of the twelve cadet colleges in Bangladesh, nine are for the boys and three for girls.
The contribution of cadet colleges in the field education in our country is immense. The new education policy should give clear and practical directions for promoting cadet colleges.
(A senior manager, BRAC Education Programme, PACE, the writer can be reached at Email: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com, mmbillah@dhaka.net)
CADET colleges historically provided quality education to the young. There is no denying that many top class civil and military officials were and are cadet college products. They are also successful professionals in many other fields. But the draft education policy somehow is silent about the cadet colleges. The system of education and discipline taught in the cadet colleges make their students better organised and more hardy. The cadet colleges, more like the British public schools, provide an environment of learning and discipline which are offered by no other institution in the country. Education and training provided by the cadet colleges prepare the students to face the challenges of life as they come. At less costs the cadet colleges produce far better and capable citizens than the more expensive English medium schools.
In a cadet college the students learn, early in life, living in dormitories. Coming from different parts of the country and various strata of the society, they get to know the Bangladesh perspective. Interaction with others and eating in dining halls make them socially positive. They learn social and table manners early in life. The grooming helps them carry on with dignity in any sitting. The admission tests could be held in all the districts instead of in Dhaka alone.
Indoor and outdoor games they play boosts their self confidence. A cadet college student must either play or watch the games and sports. Students in the other institutions do not have comparable opportunities.
Regular competitions in debates, public speaking, poetry reading and other positive activities boost the student confidence at the cadet college. These activities increase their fluence equally in Bangla and English.
The cadet college authorities should set up at least one cadet college in each district for the benefit of the meritorious but less privileged.
The seats in each class could be increased to at least 100 or 150 from 50. Many girls cannot seek admission because of the shortage of seats in only two girls' cadet colleges, one at Joypurhat and another at Feni. More cadet colleges for the girls would be a good idea.
A separate education board for cadet college education would be a pragmatic idea for promoting the inexpensive public schools.
The cadet college faculty members could be transferred to other cadet colleges as well as the other defence academies for the army, navy and air force. The faculty members would then better enjoy their work. The government college teachers can be sent to military academies on deputation. This should not be different to do. Working with defense personnel provides an excellent opportunity of learning so many things of national relevance. Education core officers, who teach in military academies, should also be transferred to cadet colleges. Promotion of faculty members should not be on seniority alone. After certain years of service, the cadet colleges faculty members should be given the opportunity to sit for promotion test to evaluate merit and ability. The existing system depends only on length of service, which is not a reasonable system of promotion.
Cadet colleges, first introduced in Germany during the Bismark days, were adopted by Napoleon Bonaparte for France. Military personalities and the royalty preferred to send their children to cadet colleges, for education and later a military carrier. Pakistan had its first cadet colleges in Punjab in 1954. Bangladesh's Faujderhat Cadet College was established in 1958. Of the twelve cadet colleges in Bangladesh, nine are for the boys and three for girls.
The contribution of cadet colleges in the field education in our country is immense. The new education policy should give clear and practical directions for promoting cadet colleges.
(A senior manager, BRAC Education Programme, PACE, the writer can be reached at Email: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com, mmbillah@dhaka.net)