For the abolition of school admission test
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
Emdadul Haque
Parents feel lucky if their kids qualify in admission tests of schools considered to be good. The schools are in high demand for their performance in the SSC examinations.
But what credit these reputed schools can claim after admitting into class I, eight or nine-year old students, most of whom come from other 'good' schools with excellent performance in class II final exam.
It only shows that the school is not always so important. How else, students of unknown rural schools could score excellent result in public examinations. Individual merit and regular study, are what matter more for the students to do well in exams.
The students of the 'good' primary schools failed to secure places in the merit list in the primary school examination-2009.
Sadia Sikder of a Narsingdi primary school stood first, followed by four students of Tangail.
A student of Dhaka city secured the eighth place. What about Viqarunnisa known to be among the top schools in Bangladesh?
No student from Monipur or Motijheel Ideal School could get a berth in the merit list either. The learners of unknown schools in the countryside out performed the good schools'.
Sadia Soumik a student of class nine in National Ideal School, stood fifth among 284 students. Her classmates, who took admission in Viqarunnisa School, are now in class seven. Even then, a good number of students of Viqarunnisa and Ideal school do not qualify for admission into the desired institutions of higher studies.
No student from 1937 schools across the country could come out successful in the Class five Final Examination, held nationally for the first time this year.
The government should withdraw the monthly payment order (MPO) facilities of a school, if, its at least 25 per cent of this students, do not pass public examinations. The percentage of students' success may be gradually increased to 50 per cent.
Introduction of such accountability would make the teachers serious.
The less qualified and non performing teachers could be gradually phased out for replacement by meritorious new recruits.
The national primary final examination has made it easier to identify the non performing schools.
Dedicated teachers make a good school. The reality is more teachers spend time in private coaching than in class room teaching.
The system of college admission on the basis of marks obtained in the SSC exams, which replaced the written tests is proving useful.
An exclusive coaching centre for admission seekers to Viqarunnisa School, charges Tk 15,000 from each of 600 students as the intake fee. The monthly tuition fee is Tk 1,800. Many students of this coaching centre qualify in the Viquarunnisa admission test. The coaching centre earns almost Tk 20 million a year.
The coaching centers across the country exploit the admission system to make money. Parents with school admission age children suffer in silence.
How can the admission tests for the tiny tots is justifiable is open to question. People often compare the test of Viqarunnisa School for admission into class with the BCS examination.
Who would save the kids and their parents from the torments of the tests for admission into class one. An acceptable alternative can end the coaching business.
(The writer can be reached at ehaque63@gmail.com)
Parents feel lucky if their kids qualify in admission tests of schools considered to be good. The schools are in high demand for their performance in the SSC examinations.
But what credit these reputed schools can claim after admitting into class I, eight or nine-year old students, most of whom come from other 'good' schools with excellent performance in class II final exam.
It only shows that the school is not always so important. How else, students of unknown rural schools could score excellent result in public examinations. Individual merit and regular study, are what matter more for the students to do well in exams.
The students of the 'good' primary schools failed to secure places in the merit list in the primary school examination-2009.
Sadia Sikder of a Narsingdi primary school stood first, followed by four students of Tangail.
A student of Dhaka city secured the eighth place. What about Viqarunnisa known to be among the top schools in Bangladesh?
No student from Monipur or Motijheel Ideal School could get a berth in the merit list either. The learners of unknown schools in the countryside out performed the good schools'.
Sadia Soumik a student of class nine in National Ideal School, stood fifth among 284 students. Her classmates, who took admission in Viqarunnisa School, are now in class seven. Even then, a good number of students of Viqarunnisa and Ideal school do not qualify for admission into the desired institutions of higher studies.
No student from 1937 schools across the country could come out successful in the Class five Final Examination, held nationally for the first time this year.
The government should withdraw the monthly payment order (MPO) facilities of a school, if, its at least 25 per cent of this students, do not pass public examinations. The percentage of students' success may be gradually increased to 50 per cent.
Introduction of such accountability would make the teachers serious.
The less qualified and non performing teachers could be gradually phased out for replacement by meritorious new recruits.
The national primary final examination has made it easier to identify the non performing schools.
Dedicated teachers make a good school. The reality is more teachers spend time in private coaching than in class room teaching.
The system of college admission on the basis of marks obtained in the SSC exams, which replaced the written tests is proving useful.
An exclusive coaching centre for admission seekers to Viqarunnisa School, charges Tk 15,000 from each of 600 students as the intake fee. The monthly tuition fee is Tk 1,800. Many students of this coaching centre qualify in the Viquarunnisa admission test. The coaching centre earns almost Tk 20 million a year.
The coaching centers across the country exploit the admission system to make money. Parents with school admission age children suffer in silence.
How can the admission tests for the tiny tots is justifiable is open to question. People often compare the test of Viqarunnisa School for admission into class with the BCS examination.
Who would save the kids and their parents from the torments of the tests for admission into class one. An acceptable alternative can end the coaching business.
(The writer can be reached at ehaque63@gmail.com)