News reports in some reputed dailies on November 24, 2014 exposed the leakage of question papers of the Primary School Certificate (PSC) examination 2014. The Director General of the Directorate of Primary Education, however, dismissed the allegation.
The allegation was that a coaching centre at Siddeswari area tutored some students and also held tests to prepare them for the exam. The questions the students were given in the tests were found similar to those in the PSC examination.
On November 26, the newspapers again reported the allegation of question leakage. Guardians alleged that sample questions were found on the social site Facebook on Monday and most of those matched with those of Tuesday's (November 25) exam. Again, the Primary and Mass Education Minister denied such allegations.
It is also true that if one takes preparation for exam on the basis of previous years' question papers, one may find some common questions. However, given the massive countrywide activity on holding the PSC exam, the cost involved in it, the mushroom growth of coaching centres and the possibility of the leakage of question papers, one may tend to question the very necessity and efficacy of such examination at the primary level.
The Primary and Ebtedayee terminal examinations for class V students of general and madrasa education began across the country on November 23, 2014. Nearly 3.1 million examinees, of whom 27,88,544 for general education and 3,05,720 for Ebtedayee education, were enrolled to sit for the PSC examinations. But 1,02,742 candidates in the general examination and 40,698 candidates in the Ebtedayee examination did not turn up. The percentages of absentee examinees were 3.68 per cent and 13.30 per cent respectively. During the course of the examinations more students could drop.
There are about eighty-two thousand primary-level educational institutions in the country. Programmes undertaken pursuant to the enactment of the Primary Education (compulsory) Act, such as free distribution of textbooks, food for education programme, stipend, social mobilisation programme, increase of physical facilities and improvement of the quality of education have contributed towards a substantial increase in the enrolment of the students. A project titled "Reaching Out of School Children" (ROSC), launched in 2004, provided for education allowance ranging from Tk. 800 for children in grades I to III to Tk 970 for those in Grades IV to V. The project covers 60 upazilas. Sixty per cent posts of the teachers is reserved for female candidates, which has presently reached more than 51 per cent. It is generally held that the number of institutions and enrolments have grown at all levels, but the quality of education has deteriorated, especially in institutions where mostly children of the poor families attend.
In view of the present quality of education, there is a long way to go in the primary education sector. The authorities must review the existing teaching-learning model so that the foundation of literacy and basic knowledge can be built at the primary level. English language teaching should be continued from class one. Subject-based training, multiple ways of teaching techniques, sub-cluster training, C-in-Ed training should be vigorously pursued for teachers of primary school. Professional training should become a prerequisite for teaching and academic supervisory positions in primary education.
When there is ample room for improving primary-level education, introduction of PSC examination raises question as to how far it is helpful for overall education. This certificate is not important for higher education, nor does it have value in the job market. The conduct of this examination requires time, exam centres, large number of personnel and finance for meeting the costs towards printing of question papers, answer sheets, remuneration for the invigilators and the examiners and tour allowances for senior supervisors. If the cost of the government per examinee is Tk 200, total cost for conducting this examination for 3.0 million students stands at Tk 600 million. If a guardian spends Tk. 200 for his child every day to take to centres and bring back home, he needs Tk. 1000 for five days. The cost in this respect for 3.0 million students stands at Tk 3.0 billion. If 50 per cent of candidates, say 1.5 million go to coaching centres and the cost is conservatively assumed to be Tk 1000 per month, the total comes to Tk. 1.5 billion.
Thus, huge costs are involved in conducting such a mega event for children having no value for job market or higher education. The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) have such values for higher education and jobs. There is always criticism about coaching centres. Primary school and Ebtadayee Certificate examinations give impetus for further growth of the coaching centres.
Time has come to raise question about the rationale behind the holding of primary and Ebtadayee certificate examinations. The educationists, the civil society and the policy makers should put their heads together and think hard.
The writer is an economist and columnist. chowdhuryjafar@ymail.com