Quality of Education : How to Ensure it in Bangladesh

Introduction: Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world with about 160 million people within an area of 1,47,570 square kilometers. Its' vast population is one of the major resources. But the problem lies in transforming the potential people into a productive force and ensuring a dynamic environment for social, economic and political development. Though the literacy rate is officially said to be 66% but according to private survey the rate is only 42%. Education, therefore, has been recognized a priority sector by all government since her independence.

The education system in Bangladesh is characterized by the co-existence of three separate streams. The mainstream happens to be a vernacular based secular education carried over the colonial past. There also exists a separate system of religious education. Finally, based on use of English as the medium of instruction, another stream of education modeled after British system has rapidly grown in metropolitan cities in Bangladesh.

Present Education System in Bangladesh: The present education system of Bangladesh may be broadly divided into three major stages, such as-Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Education. Primary level institutions impart primary education basically, Junior secondary, secondary and higher secondary level institutions impart secondary education. Degree pass, degree honors, masters and other higher level institutions or equivalent section of other related institutions impart tertiary education. The education system is operationally categorized into two streams; Primary education (grade I-V) managed by the ministry of primary and mass education and the primary terminal examinations and ibtedayi terminal examination have been started. The government introduced the public examination for class V students in 2009. Only students of general schools sat for the exams last year. But this year (2010) the madrasha students are also taking the examination.

Another grade (V - VIII) Junior School Certificate (JSC) and Junior Dhakil Certificate (JDC) examination for class VIII students held across the country in the first week of November replacing the previous annual and junior scholarship exams. This examination held under eight general education boards and madrasha board under same question paper across the country with participation of 19 lakh examiners.

It was decided that students will be admitted to class IX on the basis of the result of this examination and no separate examination will be held for admission in class IX.

During college admission the results of JSC and equivalent along with the result of the SSC examination, will badly needed to justify their merit.

And, the post primary stream of education is further classified into four types in term of curriculum: general education, madrasha education, technical-vocational education and professional education.

1. General Education

(a) Primary Education: The first level of education is comprised of 5 years of formal schooling (class/grades I-V). Education, at this stage, normally begins at 6+ years of age up 11 years. Primary education is generally imparted in primary schools. Nevertheless, other types of institutions like Kindergartens and junior sections attached to English Medium Schools are also imparting it.

(b) Secondary Education: The secondary level of education is comprised of 7 (3+2+2) years of formal schooling. The first three years (grades VI-VIII) is referred to us junior secondary while the last two years (grades XI-XII) is called higher secondary.

There is diversification of courses after three years of schooling in junior secondary level. Vocational and technical courses are offered in vocational and trade institutions schools. Moreover, there are high schools where SSC (Vocational) courses have been introduced. In secondary education, there are three streams of courses such as Humanities, Science and Business Education, which started class IX, where the students are free to choose their courses of education. The academic programme terminates at the end of class X when students are to appear at the public examination called S.S.C (Secondary School Certificates). The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) conducts the SSC examination.

The secondary education is designed to prepare the students to enter into the higher secondary stage. The course is of two-year duration (XI - XII) which is being offered by intermediate section of degree or master colleges.

(c) Tertiary Education

(i) College: The third stage of education is comprised of 2-6 years of formal schooling. The minimum requirement for admission to higher education is the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC). HSC holders are qualified to enroll in 3-year degree pass courses while for honors, they may enroll in 4-year bachelors' degree honor courses in degree level colleges or in the Universities.

After successful completion of a pass honors bachelors' degree course. Master degree courses are of one year for honor bachelor degree holders and 2 years for pass bachelor degree holders. For those aspiring to take up M. Phill and Ph. D courses in selected disciplines or areas of specialization, the duration is of 2 years for M. Phill and 3-4 years for Ph. D after completing master degree. Higher education is being offered in the universities and post HSC level colleges and institutes of diversified studies in professional, technical and other special types of education.

(ii) University: There are 85 universities in Bangladesh. Out of these, 32 universities are in the public sector while the other 52 are in private sector universities. Out of 32 public sector universities, 30 universities provide regular classroom instruction facilities and services. Bangladesh Open University (BOU) conducts non-campus distance education programmes especially in the field of teacher education and offers Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) and Master of Education (M.Ed) degrees. Bangladesh National University mainly functions as an affiliating university for degree and post graduate degree level education at different colleges and institutions in different field of studies. After successful completion of the special courses, it conducts final examinations and awards degree, diplomas and certificates to successful candidates. The degrees are B.A, BSS, BSc, BCom (pass and honors) MA, MSc, MSS, M,Com and MFA. Moreover, this University also offers LLB and other degrees. Bangladesh National University offers part-time training to university teachers.

2. Madrasha Education: The old scheme of madrasha education was introduced in 1870 with the establishment of Calcatta Madrasha. In madrasha education one can learn islamic religious as complementary to each other in the system of education. The madrasha education system has been continuing with some modifications according to the demand of the time, and many madrasha grew up in this sub-continent.

(a) Primary level or ebtedayee education: This is equivalent to primary level of general education. The first level of madrasha education is comprised of 5 years of schooling (grades I - V). Ebtedayee education is imparted in independent ebtedayee madrashas and ebtedyaee sections of Dhakil, Alim, Fazil and Kamil madrashas. It is also imparted in some Quami-Kharizi madrashas.

(b) Secondary level: The secondary level of madrasha education is comprised of 7 (5 + 2) years of formal schooling. There are diversification of courses after three years of schooling in secondary level of education from grade XI Alim stages. There are a stream of courses such as humanities, science and business education, where students are free to choose their courses of studies. Most of these madrashas in this level provide co-education. However, there are some single gender madrashas in this level of madrasha education.

(c) Tertiary level: The Bangladesh Madrasha Education Board has the following functions as regard to madrasha education: grant affiliation to different levels of madrasha from ebtedayee to Kamils; prescribes syllabi and curricula; conducts public examinations (Dhakil to kamil) and ebtedayee terminal examination and JDC. (Junior Dhakil Examination). Besides the public system of madrasha education there are a good number of private madrasha for the muslim students, namely: Hafizia, Qiratia, Quami and Nizamiah.

(3) Technical and vocational level: For the students whose interest are not strictly academic may find technical-vocational programmes more interesting more valuable for their future. Govt. tries to ensure that the course curriculum should be relevant to students, interest and aspiration while at the same time it should address the needs of job market.

(a) Primary level: There is no technical-vocational institution in primary level education. Ebtedayee in the first level (primary level) of madrasha education has no scope for technical-vocational education.

(b) Secondary level: Vocational courses start from secondary level. The certificate courses prepare skilled workers in different vocations starting ninth grade after completion of three years of schooling in secondary school. Recently 2 years duration vocational courses have been introduced at the higher secondary level in government managed vocational training institutes. Diploma courses prepare the Diploma Engineers at the polytechnic institutes. There is a technical education board called Bangladesh Technical Education Board (BTEB). It conducts examinations of the students completing different courses in different vocational and technical education and awards certificate to the successful candidates.

Conclusion: Above all, the government of Bangladesh gives emphasis on quality of education. The primary and ebtedayee examination had been started to standardize education system. Junior School Certificate (JSC) and Junior Dhakil Certificate (JDC) (grade VI-VIII) has been started in this year. And, the all government are sympathetic towards implementing better education policy and a large portion of budget is alloted to education.