The New Nation - Internet Edition

The overall quality of primary education has undoubtedly deteriorated. There is no regular inspection and evaluation of schools by the education department. Education officials at different level allegedly do not discharge their duties properly. This has led to the downfall of the quality of instruction. A large section of the primary teachers, it is alleged, is not found adequately keen in giving lessons to the students. This situation of primary education, linked up with other factors, has raised questions regarding the achievability of the goal of universal primary education within 2015. The government should come up with appropriate action programme to come out of such dilapidated condition of primary education.

The urgency of qualitative improvement of primary education hardly needs explanation. But NGO supervision over the schools is not likely to achieve the goal. Such a policy is rather feared to mess up the whole thing. Privatisation or commercialisation of basic education might destroy the foundation of the whole education system. The basic education of a nation, a fundamental right of the people, cannot be entrusted upon an NGO. Only the state can ensure it. Strict supervision and evaluation of the primary schools by the education department is key to the restoration of discipline in primary education and improve its quality. The performances of the teachers should strictly be monitored. Different problems of the primary teachers should also be solved so that they can concentrate on their duties. Performances of the education officers should also be monitored to remove their negligence of duties.

Ariful Huq

Dhaka