Education system in Bangladesh

Bangladesh has perhaps one of the most diverse and outdated education systems, which can be divided based on the medium of instruction, including Bengali, English, and Madrasah. The Bengali and English-medium education systems are collectively referred to as the general education system, whereas the religion-based education system is known as the Madrasah system. Students also have the opportunity to choose a non-formal education system, known as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). However, each of these three main education systems can be further divided into different levels, which are as follows:

       I.          Primary Level (Class 1-5)

     II.          Secondary Level (Class 6-10, SSC)

    III.          Higher Secondary Level (Class 11-12, HSC)

   IV.          Tertiary Level- (Undergraduate, Post-graduate, Masters of Philosophy, Doctoral Degree)

Our education journey begins at the pre-primary level, which includes Kindergarten and Nursery. During these two years, we are introduced to the alphabet, rhymes, and numbers. Then our primary-level education begins, which ends with the Primary School Certificate (PSC) examination after completing five years of primary school. Students in class eight appear in the Junior School Certificate (JSC) examination after successfully completing eight years of academic study.

After that, they enroll in the secondary level, which consists of grades 9, 10, 11, and 12. During these four years, students are required to take two significant public examinations: the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC), each held after two years. When students move to class nine, they choose either Science, Business Studies, or Humanities as their group.

The first major board examination for a Bangladeshi student is the Secondary School Certificate (SSC). Students sit for this examination after completing ten years of academic study. However, secondary-level education ends with the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination after completing grade 12, or the second year of college. Passing the HSC examination is mandatory to enroll in an undergraduate program.

There are two types of undergraduate programs: the pass course (degree) and the Honors program. The duration of the pass course is three years, whereas Honors students study for one additional year. Afterwards, students may pursue a postgraduate or Master’s degree, which lasts two years for those who completed the pass course and one year for those who completed the Honors program. 

We can also observe that, apart from the national education system, other educational systems exist, including the English-medium and Madrasah education systems. In our country, English-medium education is offered by several private institutions. These institutions provide O Level and A Level courses, which are equivalent to the SSC and HSC, respectively. Students have the opportunity to take these examinations under Edexcel or Cambridge. However, the O Level and A Level examinations are conducted through the British Council in Dhaka. The Madrasah education system focuses on Arabic-medium, Islam-centered education, which is administered by the Bangladesh Madrasah Education Board, also known as the Alia Madrasah Education Board.

Since 2009 and 2010, respectively, the PSC and JSC examinations have been conducted by the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education (MoPME), which is responsible for primary (Classes I–VIII) and mass education in Bangladesh. Except for three subjects—Bangla Second Paper, English First Paper, and English Second Paper—the question papers for all other subjects in the PSC, JSC, or equivalent examinations are designed according to a new format known as “Srijonshil” or creative. The purpose of this new format was to encourage students to think critically.

It is needless to say that this new examination system faced significant criticism. As a result, a group of people demanded the discontinuation of the examinations. However, their request was not accepted, as it was considered an unrealistic suggestion. During the inaugural ceremony of National Primary Education Week 2017, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina spoke in favor of the new education system. To justify the continuation of public examinations in the fifth and eighth grades, she said, “The main objective of introducing the new system in 2009 was to ensure equal opportunities for every student to learn, build their confidence, remove the fear of public examinations, and award scholarships to students based on their results.”

According to some concerned parents and educationists, the PSC and JSC examinations have placed extra pressure on teenagers. Compared to the previous education system, which required students to study for ten long years to obtain their first academic certificate, the new education system allows students to achieve it after successfully completing five years of schooling. Some students and their parents consider this a matter of great pride. Furthermore, the previous education system allowed only a limited number of students to participate in scholarship examinations held in the fifth and eighth grades, overlooking the abilities of other students. In contrast, the new examination system awards scholarships based on students’ performance. 

Short History of English Language in Bangladesh

I was born and raised in Bangladesh, a developing country where English is taught as a subject from elementary to tertiary levels. As a student of the English language and literature, I am very curious to know when and how this language was introduced in my country. For this reason, I used the Google search engine to find out its origins. What I found is very interesting. It is said that this foreign language was first introduced in the Indian subcontinent after the establishment of the East India Company. When England took control of the subcontinent, English emerged as the instrument and language of colonial power. It was the medium of language for colonial administration, education, and commerce. Therefore, it became the common means of communication between the rulers and the educated class of the Indian subcontinent.

However, in 1858, the British Raj began its regime in the Indian subcontinent under the British Crown following the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Their rule came to an end with the partition of India in 1947. Despite this fact, the English language managed to hold its strong position. As a result of the partition, Bangladesh became separate from India and joined Pakistan as a provincial state. During the period from 1955 to 1971, Bangladesh was under the rule of Pakistan and was known as East Pakistan. At that time, English held the position of a second language in this region. It served as the medium for administration and higher education and facilitated communication among educated speakers of Bengali and Urdu.  

On December 16, 1971, Bangladesh achieved independence from Pakistan after a nine-month brutal war. Since then, the English language has begun to lose its dominant position in this newborn country. The first few years after the independence of Bangladesh are noteworthy because, during this period, the English language suffered serious neglect due to the public’s strong preference for their mother tongue, Bengali. As a result, the state of English language teaching and learning in educational institutions deteriorated, even though English remained a compulsory subject from the secondary to the higher secondary level. However, from 1974, this situation began to improve with the formation of the education commission, which proposed various measures regarding language teaching. Subsequently, the Ministry of Education formed an English Language Teaching Taskforce to evaluate the status of the English language in Bangladesh, and it made several recommendations for improving the learning of English. In Bangladesh, the status of English is that of a foreign language, not a second language.

Migris Interview Questions for Lithuania

Lithuania is one of the most popular study-abroad destinations among international students. This Schengen country offers European-standard education at an affordable cost, which is why it is becoming increasingly popular among study-abroad aspirants. However, to obtain legal permission to study in Lithuania, students must secure a Temporary Residence Permit (TRP). This is granted only if applicants perform well in a Migris interview conducted by the Lithuanian Migration Department. Below is a list of probable questions that students may be asked during the Migris interview. 

1. Tell me about yourself.

·       Please introduce yourself and tell us about your academic background, any relevant professional experience, your family background, and your personal interests.

2. Tell us the name of the program you are pursuing and the institute where you are pursuing the program.

3. Why did you choose this bachelor’s or master’s program?

4. Why did you choose this college or university?

·       Who recommended this college or university to you?

·       What other academic institutions did you consider, and why did you not choose them?

5. What do you know about this college or university? What do you know about its reputation?

6. Why did you choose a college instead of a university?

7. Why did you choose Lithuania for your higher studies?

8. If a similar program is available in your country, why did you not choose to study it there?

9. Which other countries did you consider, and why did you decide not to choose them?

10. How did you come to know about this college or program?

·       How did you find out about the opportunity to study in Lithuania?

11. Why did you choose Europe for higher education instead of other continents?

12. How is this program related to your previous studies?

13. What interests you most about this program?

14. What are your future career plans after completing this program?

15. How will this program help you achieve your future career goals?

16. What career options are available after completing this program?

17. How will you finance your studies and living expenses in Lithuania?

·       Who is your sponsor?

·       What is his or her profession?

·       If employed, who issued his or her job certificate?

·       What is his or her monthly or annual income?

·       How long have your parents been saving for your education abroad?

18. Where will you live in Lithuania?

19. Do you plan to work while studying in Lithuania?

·       If you get any part-time work opportunity, will you accept it?

20. Do you plan to pursue a master’s or doctoral degree after graduation?

21. Do you intend to stay in Lithuania after completing your studies?

22. What makes this course suitable for your career goals?

23. What key features of this course motivated you to choose it?

24. Who is the rector or a notable figure of the college or university?

25. What is the medium of instruction for your program?

26. What is the duration of your program?

27. What subjects or modules are included in your course?

28. Can you describe your family background or family circumstances?
29. Have you ever traveled abroad before?

30. How will you adapt to living in Lithuania?

31. Do you have any relatives or friends in Lithuania?

32. Did you do the visa application by yourself, or did you seek assistance from others?

33. How was the visa application process? Can you explain the steps involved in the visa application?

34. How much is the state fee?

35. How did you pay the state fee?

36. Did you do the university admission by yourself? What were the steps involved in the university admission process?

37.  Which application did you submit to the Immigration Department?

38. What do you expect from us?

39. What is the reason for our meeting today?

40. How much do you expect to spend per month on accommodation, food, and other living expenses in Lithuania? Can you provide a cost breakdown?

41. What do you know about Lithuanian culture and heritage?

42. What languages are spoken in Lithuania?

43. What currency is used in Lithuania?

44. What is the climate like in Lithuania?

45. How do you plan to adjust to cultural differences?

46. What types of food are popular in Lithuania?

47. What will you do if your visa application is refused?