JS panel suggests monitoring of classroom activities

The parliamentary standing committee on education on Wednesday asked education ministry to strictly monitor classroom activities of the schools and colleges across the country.

In its fifth meeting held at the parliament, the committee members expressed concern over not completing lessons in time at schools and colleges following the guidelines set in the curriculums.

For which, they said, the students did not receive quality education despite huge investment by the government in the sector.

The committee members asked to ensure effective and fruitful education at upazila level schools to diminish disparity between schools of urban and rural areas.

They asked the agencies concerned to strictly monitor activities of the school and college governing bodies.

The standing committee members also questioned the outcome of allowing colleges under the national university to open so many departments without recruiting sufficient teachers.

Education ministry’s proposal of introducing mandatory technical education from Class VI to Class VIII from 2021 at all institutions was approved by the committee. It also recommended tabling the International Mother Language Institute Bill 2010 following required amendments in the parliament.

Deputy education minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, education secretary Sohrab Hossain and heads of subordinating agencies under the ministry were present at the meeting.

Standing committee chairman Md Afsarul Ameen told New Age that the committee recommended strict monitoring of classroom activities as they received several complaints against many schools and colleges across the country.

‘In many institutes teachers do not take classes, rather they are more interested in pursuing their own interests,’ Afsarul said.

As a result, expected outcome is not obtained despite investing a lot in the sector from the taxpayers’ money, said Afsarul, former primary and mass education minister.

He said that the introduction of technical teaching courses at schools was the need of the time. ‘At the same time we asked them to provide sufficient trained teachers and laboratory benefits without which textbooks will not provide expected results,’ he said. 

Alongside Afsarul, Bangladesh Workers Party lawmaker Fazle Hossain Badsha and Jatiya Party lawmaker Golam Kibria Tipu emphasised strict monitoring of the activities of the school and college governing bodies.

They asked the ministry to ensure that regular audit reports are submitted as well as proper fund management of the government and non-government schools and colleges. 

‘I know that using muscle power some people become school governing body members and chairmen just to make money while sometimes lawmakers are made governing body chairmen to protect irregularities of the committees,’ Tipu said.

‘Fund management of the government schools and colleges also should be monitored strictly,’ Badshah added.

Afsarul said that he asked the National University vice chancellor professor Harun-or-Rashid to explain the logic behind allowing the colleges to teach so many subjects at remote areas without having sufficient teachers.

‘What’s the benefit of giving certificates without providing quality education?’ he argued.

Harun could not be contacted for the answer.

Education secretary claimed that audits of the schools were done accordingly and classroom activities were strictly monitored.

Dhaka University emeritus professor Serajul Islam Choudhury demanded the realisation of the parliamentary watchdog’s recommendations while Dhaka University retired professor Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque suggested that the government should bring a sea-change to the country’s education policy since it failed to accrue long-term benefits.   

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net