Do the impressive SSC results prove quality of education?
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Masum Billah
The number of examinees securing the highest grade in the SSC and equivalent examinations under ten education boards this year has increased significantly over the figure of the previous years and the overall success rate also shot up. In the secondary School Certificate Examinations of 2010, a total of 62,134 examinees scored GPA-5 under eight general education boards. It was 45, 934 in 2009 and 41, 917 in 2008. The result is published in 59 days after the completion of the examinations. The pass percentage under eight education boards is 78.19, which was 67.41 in 2009 meaning over ten percentage points increase in the pass rate from the last year's results.
The number of schools with cent percent students pass record has also increased to 2927 from last year's 2726. The number of schools with nil success came down to 49 from last year's 72. The number of expelled examinees also shows declining trend. A total of 482 students were expelled against last year's 541. The success of science group increased to 89.69 percent compared with the last years 83.75 percent. The combined pass rate under the ten boards is 79.98 against last year's 70. 89 percent. The boys' percentage of success is 81.84 and the girls' 77.95.
The education ministry claims that special emphasis was given to English and Mathematics in the light of previous year's experience. Due to failure in these two important subjects the pass percentage showed lower last year, which impelled the ministry to give special directives to schools to take extra classes on these two subjects. Actually, the poor performing schools do not have any special arrangement for these two subjects as they already suffer for want of quality teachers, particularly in these two subjects. The better performing ones arrange special classes and take other measures of their own to make their results better. So, it is imperative of the government to offer some special supports to the poorly performing schools. BRAC with its limited ability stands beside these schools to help the rural SSC candidates with some special English and Mathematics materials and they show better performance.
Like the previous years, schools in urban areas, especially in the metropolitan cities, have done better and many achieved cent percent pass records. According to new criteria to identify the top listed schools are registered students, regular examinee, total examinees, passed examinees and number of GPA-5 holders. In spite of many changes and even signs of improvement we cannot claim that everything is positive. It is alleged that some institutions are achieving this brilliant results as they drop many candidates in the pre-qualifying test. This is unfair. It is reported that more than 60,000 student with GPA -5 will not get admission in a college of their choice. This is another sign of imbalance.
Again, the Madrasa shows the highest pass rate (86.70%) under all the ten education boards. It gives scopes for discussion. The Madrasa teachers are not so trained as in general education, teaching ways are also not developed, modern and scientific. So, how is it possible for the Madrasa students to obtain the highest pass percentage? In this age of globalisation we must not lag behind in global education race. In this perspective can we afford just to increase the pass percentage with some other objectives or we should ensure quality education taking very standard examination. Questions for Madrasa examinations must be set at world standard.
......................................
The writer is a senior
manager, BRAC education programme. He can be reached at Email:
mmbillah2000@yahoo.com
The number of examinees securing the highest grade in the SSC and equivalent examinations under ten education boards this year has increased significantly over the figure of the previous years and the overall success rate also shot up. In the secondary School Certificate Examinations of 2010, a total of 62,134 examinees scored GPA-5 under eight general education boards. It was 45, 934 in 2009 and 41, 917 in 2008. The result is published in 59 days after the completion of the examinations. The pass percentage under eight education boards is 78.19, which was 67.41 in 2009 meaning over ten percentage points increase in the pass rate from the last year's results.
The number of schools with cent percent students pass record has also increased to 2927 from last year's 2726. The number of schools with nil success came down to 49 from last year's 72. The number of expelled examinees also shows declining trend. A total of 482 students were expelled against last year's 541. The success of science group increased to 89.69 percent compared with the last years 83.75 percent. The combined pass rate under the ten boards is 79.98 against last year's 70. 89 percent. The boys' percentage of success is 81.84 and the girls' 77.95.
The education ministry claims that special emphasis was given to English and Mathematics in the light of previous year's experience. Due to failure in these two important subjects the pass percentage showed lower last year, which impelled the ministry to give special directives to schools to take extra classes on these two subjects. Actually, the poor performing schools do not have any special arrangement for these two subjects as they already suffer for want of quality teachers, particularly in these two subjects. The better performing ones arrange special classes and take other measures of their own to make their results better. So, it is imperative of the government to offer some special supports to the poorly performing schools. BRAC with its limited ability stands beside these schools to help the rural SSC candidates with some special English and Mathematics materials and they show better performance.
Like the previous years, schools in urban areas, especially in the metropolitan cities, have done better and many achieved cent percent pass records. According to new criteria to identify the top listed schools are registered students, regular examinee, total examinees, passed examinees and number of GPA-5 holders. In spite of many changes and even signs of improvement we cannot claim that everything is positive. It is alleged that some institutions are achieving this brilliant results as they drop many candidates in the pre-qualifying test. This is unfair. It is reported that more than 60,000 student with GPA -5 will not get admission in a college of their choice. This is another sign of imbalance.
Again, the Madrasa shows the highest pass rate (86.70%) under all the ten education boards. It gives scopes for discussion. The Madrasa teachers are not so trained as in general education, teaching ways are also not developed, modern and scientific. So, how is it possible for the Madrasa students to obtain the highest pass percentage? In this age of globalisation we must not lag behind in global education race. In this perspective can we afford just to increase the pass percentage with some other objectives or we should ensure quality education taking very standard examination. Questions for Madrasa examinations must be set at world standard.
......................................
The writer is a senior
manager, BRAC education programme. He can be reached at Email:
mmbillah2000@yahoo.com