The New Nation - Internet Edition

STUDENTS of different educational institutions are found enrolling themselves in coaching centres in the capital and other towns and cities. It is reported in a newspaper, that at least one thousand coaching centres have been set up in Dhaka city by teachers of schools and colleges and faculty members of public and private universities. The coaching centres usually charge fees at high rates. Teachers of kindergartens, schools and universities work in coaching centres mainly for earning money beyond the salary received from their respective institutions where they are employed full time.

Schools for education of children at the primary and the secondary education levels have been set up all over the country. The number of colleges, universities for science, humanities engineering, technical and medical education have also been increased. Their facilities including laboratories, libraries, and hostels for students have been expanded for meeting the increased demand. It is worth noting that the campus of the Dhaka University, termed also as the Oxford of the East, is quite big. Beyond the public universities and colleges, private entrepreneurs have also set up universities and colleges for education. Enrolment of students in all these academic institutions have increased.

The authorities concerned have literally failed to monitor the work of the coaching centres and their teachers. Some students paying fees at higher rates also opt for buying fake certificates. In the late seventies, the government had banned notebooks from which students used to take help on how to answer questions. Now, coaching centres and private tutors have taken their place. The authorities concerned may rethink the whole issue to free the society from the unfair practices perpetrated in the name of imparting education.