Our
policy-makers always talk about the importance of English but there is no
initiative to start English medium education at the government level. Though
some private English medium schools are providing standard education, less than
1% of the students are studying in these schools. The current English language
teaching system fails to achieve expected result. As a result, we cannot
develop large pool of workers who are skilled in English. It is also shrinking
the job-opportunity of our youth and the number of unemployed youth with poor
English skill increasing day by day. Multinational companies, freelance
outsourcing, no where we are achieving our expected outcome. Failing in
international arena, more and more youth are looking for jobs in the
overcrowded domestic market thus creating huge pressure. Meanwhile the private
English medium schools are charging exorbitant amount of tuition fees which is
becoming unbearable for people with limited income. Despite their best wishes,
families with limited income do not think of enrolling their children in these
English medium schools.
University-level
admission examinations reveal the pitiful condition of English language
proficiency of our students. Only 2 out of 40,565 students who sat for the arts
department admission examination in the University of Dhaka in 2014 obtained
adequate marks to become eligible to study in the English Department. In 2016,
90% students failed in English in the admission test in “Ga” unit.
Educationists have said, “Proficiency in English is not being achieved even
after the end of 17 years of education life in our education system. Though
half a million young people finishes higher education, they are facing
adversity in their workplace because of the lack of English skills. 47%
graduates are not getting job. If there were English skill, workplace would
have been expanded outside the country. If English medium could start in
government schools then large population of the country would come under
English education.” According to Education Ministry, there are almost four
crores of students from pre-primary till higher secondary. In 146 registered
private English medium schools, only 79,000 students are studying, which is 20%
of the total students.
As
per Bangladesh English Medium School Association, the number of such type of
schools in our country is almost 350. The number of students is around 3 lakhs.
If we take everything into consideration, the percentage of students studying
in English medium (foreign and Bangladeshi curriculum) is 0.75%. Less than 1
percent of the students are getting opportunity to study in English medium
giving high salary. But out of 1 crore and 73 lakh students in total, 1 crore
and 30 lakh (75%) students are studying in government schools throughout the
country. Hossain Zillur Rahman, education adviser of the former caretaker
government, said to Bangladesh Pratidin, “English is not only a language; it is
now seen as a technology. It is an acknowledged medium in international
communication. But our policy makers have made the definition of one kind of
patriotism by saying English foreign language. As if focusing on English will
diminish the prestige of Bengali language. It is the trick of aspect. We will
give priority to Bengali on our own responsibility.”
Because
of the trick of the aspect, general people are being deprived. Elite class and
policy makers are making their child fully proficient in English. General
people are being deprived. Country is suffering. If English version was started
beside Bengali medium in government schools gradually, meritorious students in
poor family could study. But, in this case, only announcement will not be
enough. Many new teachers will be required. They will have to be made
efficient. For this, they will have to make plan and they will have to do all
the things that are necessary. Professor Syed Manzoorul Islam, former teacher
of the University of Dhaka, said, “Due to lack of English skills, we are
sustaining loss in international court. It would be better if English version
were started in government educational institutions. But good teachers will not
be found with the present salary structure. And if we go to do it without any
long-term plan, it will be reversal. There will be project, money will be
spent, but it will be of no use. In the name of training, many people will
travel to different countries. After returning from training, they will be
transferred to another ministry. One percent of the allocation will not be
spent in education. For this reason, we will have to do long-term plan with
overall education sector. Primary till class eight, secondary till class twelve
and higher education from after- we will have to do plan in this way. College
education is an ineffective system. It should have withdrawn. I have edited and
submitted a strategic paper about higher education. Now, it is possible to make
radical change in the education system of the country if we can move forward coordinately,
making primary and secondary strategy paper. But here educationists do not run
education sector. That is the problem. For this reason, education policy making
in 2010 is in cold storage for nine years.”
