Streamlining primary education
Sunday, 27 December 2009
THE decision of the government to introduce from this year the system of holding nation-wide public examination at the primary school level was initially received with marked scepticism. It was apparently a hurried decision. There were doubts whether the examinations, taken at such a short notice, would be smooth. The government proved the doubters wrong. As many as 18,23,465 students of Class V -- 9,92,586 girls and 8,30,879 boys -- from 81,372 primary schools of 11 categories from all over the countries sat for the 'Prathomik Shikha Samaponi Parikha' (Primary Education Terminal Examination) on November 21, 22 and 24. The results were published on December 22. A total of 16,20,054 students --8,68,589 girls and 7,51,465 boys -- came out successful in the examinations, the rate of pass being 88.84 per cent. A total of 6,76,717 students obtained First Division, 6,15,350 Second Division and 3,27,987 Third Division and 2,03,411 failed the examinations. The successful students will get their certificates by December 30. The results of the first-ever 'Prathomik Shikha Samaponi Parikha' (Primary Education Terminal Examination) have been revealing. It is a pleasant surprise that the government primary schools have done better than the private schools and the schools in the rural areas, than the schools in the urban areas.
The successful introduction of the 'Prathomik Shikha Samaponi Parikha' may thus contribute towards correcting one of the worst abuses of the egalitarian provisions of the Constitution which relates to the education system. The Spirit of the Liberation War pervaded the whole nation when the Constitution was enacted in 1972. Article 17 of the Constitution provides: "The State shall adopt effective measures for the purpose of -- (a) establishing a uniform, mass-oriented and universal system of education and extending free and compulsory education to all children as such stage as may be determined by law…" To give effect to this constitutional provision, the then government formed the Qudrat-e-Khuda Education Commission in 1972 to draft an education policy and nationalised primary education in 1973. The Qudrat-e-Khuda Commission submitted its report in 1974. The report became a victim of the bloody change-over of 1975. The nationalisation of primary education was also abandoned.
The education system has over the years become totally chaotic and discriminating -- far away from the ideal of "a uniform, mass-oriented and universal system of education". Commercialisation of education has completely distorted the Constitution's basic guideline about primary education that it is the State's responsibility to provide "free and compulsory education to all children".
There has, however, been a persistent demand and campaign all these years for streamlining the education system. The present government is poised to announce a new education policy, the draft of which has been prepared by the Education Policy Formulation Committee, following the basics of the Qudrat-e-Khuda Education Commission Report. And Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said as recently as December 11 at the South Asia Education for All (EFA) that the government would introduce a unified curriculum for primary education institutions, kindergartens and madrashas to establish a common education standard.
These policy statements and initiatives of the government have already become a political issue. There are strong lobbies who are against a secular and uniform education system. Some political parties are threatening to use the card of Islam. Against this backdrop, the experience of the 'Prathomik Shikha Samaponi Parikha' will strengthen, at least, the case of a uniform education system and standardised curriculum at the primary level. This will also go a long way in extending the coverage of primary education to all segments of the population. A certificate of success in a public examination will obviously be an incentive for the guardians of poor boys or girls to send their wards to schools.
The successful introduction of the 'Prathomik Shikha Samaponi Parikha' may thus contribute towards correcting one of the worst abuses of the egalitarian provisions of the Constitution which relates to the education system. The Spirit of the Liberation War pervaded the whole nation when the Constitution was enacted in 1972. Article 17 of the Constitution provides: "The State shall adopt effective measures for the purpose of -- (a) establishing a uniform, mass-oriented and universal system of education and extending free and compulsory education to all children as such stage as may be determined by law…" To give effect to this constitutional provision, the then government formed the Qudrat-e-Khuda Education Commission in 1972 to draft an education policy and nationalised primary education in 1973. The Qudrat-e-Khuda Commission submitted its report in 1974. The report became a victim of the bloody change-over of 1975. The nationalisation of primary education was also abandoned.
The education system has over the years become totally chaotic and discriminating -- far away from the ideal of "a uniform, mass-oriented and universal system of education". Commercialisation of education has completely distorted the Constitution's basic guideline about primary education that it is the State's responsibility to provide "free and compulsory education to all children".
There has, however, been a persistent demand and campaign all these years for streamlining the education system. The present government is poised to announce a new education policy, the draft of which has been prepared by the Education Policy Formulation Committee, following the basics of the Qudrat-e-Khuda Education Commission Report. And Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said as recently as December 11 at the South Asia Education for All (EFA) that the government would introduce a unified curriculum for primary education institutions, kindergartens and madrashas to establish a common education standard.
These policy statements and initiatives of the government have already become a political issue. There are strong lobbies who are against a secular and uniform education system. Some political parties are threatening to use the card of Islam. Against this backdrop, the experience of the 'Prathomik Shikha Samaponi Parikha' will strengthen, at least, the case of a uniform education system and standardised curriculum at the primary level. This will also go a long way in extending the coverage of primary education to all segments of the population. A certificate of success in a public examination will obviously be an incentive for the guardians of poor boys or girls to send their wards to schools.