Expansion of medical engineering and technical education

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FRANCE, a developed country, has the fifth largest economy in the world. Territorially it is more or less equal to Bangladesh. But Bangladesh is one of the least developed poor countries with huge population. France has about five hundred engineering colleges and seventy-eight universities. France is also rich in medical education. France can take pride in its art and culture.

In 37 years since independence, Bangladesh could not establish even thirty-seven engineering colleges. The number of poly-technique institutions is also only a few. Enhancement of technical, medical, agricultural and engineering institutions is the pre-requisite for economic development. Bangladesh needs massive expansion of its educational facilities at under-graduate and post-graduate levels. Bangladesh must stop expansion of religious and general education at least for next ten years as they already created a large number of unemployed educated people. Under a master plan, the country needs to establish one poly-technique institution in every thana and an engineering college in every district immediately to cater to the growing demand for technical manpower in industrial ventures.

One medical college in each district needs to be set up by government in next ten years. Bangladesh should train the needed manpower to operate and maintain medical equipment, essential for modern treatment.

To modernise agriculture Bangladesh needs more agricultural institutions to provide under-graduate courses. Madrasha education needs modernisation incorporating science, mathematics and computer along with religious education. It will enable the madrasha-educated to enter the job market. Without wasting any more time, the government should take immediate steps to expand technical, engineering and medical education and stop further expansion of general and religious education.

Md. Ashraf Hossain

8, Panthapath Bashabo, Dhaka-1215