The New Nation - Internet Edition

Keeping RMG sector competitive

THE President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has reportedly projected that export earning from the sector may reach the range of twenty-five billion dollars in the next five years. It will also ensure the employment of over two million workers. In order to achieve these goals, manufacturers of garment products have to take measures for facing competition from other countries like China, India, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam. The availability of skilled manpower has to be ensured by making use of the Technical Training Centres in the country. Dedicated professionals in the field may have to be employed as faculty members in those training centres. Both short-term and long-term courses of training should be introduced for the development of skilled workforce.

The growth of the garment sector and higher export earnings from it will depend upon unhindered production and the price at which garments may be exported. Law and order situation has to be made favourable to production. The practice of the workers and their trade unions to resort to repeated strikes has to be stopped. The needs of workers, including payment of wages on time, have to be kept uppermost in the mind of the owners of factories.

Skills development of the workers, mainly the women workers, has to be achieved for the industry to remain competitive. The on-going recession might lead to contraction of demand in the RMG importing countries where consumers may opt for cheaper products.The government should support the garment manufacturers and exporters in their efforts to keep the prices of their products low not by compromising quality but by increasing efficiency of the production process. Fiscal policy support may also be extended to this largest export earning sector of the country.

Regulating private universities

A HIGH-POWERED committee of the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 2003 gave a large number of private universities a period of five years to fulfil certain criterion to maintain their licences. The committee resumed its work recently and issued show cause notices against thirteen of them afresh for not meeting the conditions. Ten more are likely to get similar notices from the UGC, fairly soon, according to a media report. The UGC had set deadlines to be met by these institutions in respect of shifting to their own campuses from hired buildings and meeting other standards to provide truly quality education.

The high costs of education in the private universities mean that these remain off limits for many students. Thus, these are not the alternatives for many pupils who thought that the private institutions would come to their rescue as the public universities could offer them no seats. Qualitatively too, except a few private universities, the teaching standard, the academic atmosphere and the worth of the degrees of the others are in doubt. But this lack of quality has not prevented them from charging relatively very high fees compared to the public universities.

Almost all the private universities lack required campuses. Housed in rented buildings, these appear more like coaching centres than universities that have varied facilities spread over big areas that create both an academic atmosphere and aesthetic environment needed for university learning. The government should encourage the growth of private centres of higher education. But it must be much more serious about its regulatory functions. The formation of an accreditation council to rate the private universities for their standards and disseminate findings to students and guardians is badly needed. The UGC should deal with the non-compliant institutions effectively.

Science education declines in the age of Science

Md. Masum Billah

We are living in the age of science and computer. Till today we enjoy the most sophisticated scientific development. When and where its onward march stops is unknown to us. To cope with the situation we need to produce a processions of science graduates and a galaxy of experts in different braches of science. But we see a grim picture regarding the producing of science graduates. The number of science learners is getting declined every year. The following picture how bleak the state of science education is in our country.

In 1990 two lakh 94 391 students sat for HSC examination. Among them science students were 28.13 percent. This year (2008) science students were 19.41 percent out of 5 lakh 2 thousands and 796 students studied science. In 1990 SSC Science students were 42.21 percent, this year 23.76 percent which clearly shows the downward trend of science education in the country. In 1990 HSC Business Studies students were 19.41 percent but this year (2008 ) it has risen to 31.79 percent. In the last two decades science learners in SSC 18.45 and in HSC 8.72 percent declined. In the country in one thousand, five hundred and twelve schools science is not taught at all. In many schools and colleges where science is taught but the standard is awfully poor because of the lack of laboratory facilities and competent teachers.

Now let us find out the causes of it. The world now witnesses commercial development also. Sometimes it seems commercial development predominates science. What science discovers, it needs commerce to market and popularize it. Some other causes can be attached to it. In the 1970s and 80s huge number of students studied science. Their main target was to study medicine as the country needed many doctors and the prospect of doctors was brighter. But the limited number of seats in the medical colleges could not provide them. As a result, students used to come to study general science where they had to face tough competition. . Then these science students opted for prospective departments/ subjects of arts in general universities where also they had to face competition with the bright and tiger science students as the number of seats for these subjects was limited (25%) for the science students. Whereas, the students of arts group with normal second class get into those departments easily and the first division holders were rewarded and welcome seriously by the departments. This thing infuriated the students of science which has caused the repugnance of students to study science. I can remember the students of English department in my time, all the students except one came from science group. Even Bengali department got all the students from science. But we had to face tough competition with the other bright science students. This situation definitely creates distaste for the students to study science. We failed to address this problem pragmatically. How science students need to be rewarded and evaluated, we failed to do it. Generally, bright caliber students study science and the nation should reward them accordingly. A student of science cannot manage a scholarship obtain 78% marks whereas only 60% holders easily obtained scholarship. As the number of brighter student used to gather in science group, definitely the number of scholarships should be expanded for them. But the relevant authorities did not think over the point. They used to measure with the same grade and scale. As a result, the present situation has approached.

It is inevitable.

Students think studying science means to be a doctor, or engineer or agriculturist. Other branches of science and general science hardly appeal the students and hold brighter perspective. Medical colleges and engineering university and institutes admit only the brilliant students. The urban and most sophisticated rural areas harbour science students. Normal or ordinary students hardly study science which entails financial involvement, extra teachers or coaching. Many rural students cannot afford to do it.

Alarmed at the decline of the quality of science education and students' enrolment for it, key scientists and educationists of the country stressed the need for sensitizing the government to allocate a larger budget for the sector to enhance teachers' capacity and update the curricula. Science textbooks need to be simplified, teachers' salaries need to be raised, and science graduates need to be motivated to become teachers. Science graduates manage job in different fields other than education who need to be motivated to come to teaching. These are the recommendations of key scientists and educationists. They suggested introducing a terrestrial television channel dedicated to broadcasting education programs to help both teachers and students by reducing students' dependence on coaching centres. This is a very good idea. Its implementation need to be scrutinized. Scientists at the discussion identified weak curriculum and textbooks, weak teaching and assessment methods, lack of properly trained teachers and laboratory facilities. Poor salaries of the teachers and students' sliding interest pose as some of the main reasons for qualitative and quantitative decline of science education in the country. They underscored the need for recruiting quality teachers and building capacity of the existing ones through tele-educaiton using ICT based materials for resuming the government's stalled Ph.D program and for organizing science weeks and science fairs.

The renowned writers, intellectuals and teachers commented regarding the issue which go in this way. "One needs private coaching to study science in our country. Only the affluent can afford it because it is expensive. Commerce, on the other hand, is a lot easier to study and to get good marks in. one can get into BBA program which has a lot of job opportunities at present is a practical cause of declining science education."-- Dr. Zafar Iqbal, eminent writer and educationist said Science materials are terrible in the country. Prof. Shamsher Ali said, " The textbooks fail to fire a spirit of enquiry" . Dr.Jamilur Reza Chowdhury, Vice-Chancellor of Brac University said, " national budget allocation for education in 2004 was only 2.3% of GDP whereas UNESCO recommended minimum 5%.Mahfuz Anam, the editor of the Daily Star, stressed the need for brining back science education to the mainstream suggesting to organize a national science convention and similar events at district levels.

It is the imperative of the time to form a national committee comprising of these people and conduct a need assessment throughout the country keeping under consideration the rural and urban context. Popularize science education and equip the young learners to face the challenges of the twenty-first century.

Why I will vote for Barack Obama

Zahid Zamir

The United States Constitution stipulates that a presidential election is to be held on the Tuesday following the first Monday of November in every four year. So, Come November 4, 2008 the Americans of all races, religious denominations, eighteen years and older will go to the polling booth to elect the 44th president of the Unites States of America. Senator Barack Obama is the Democratic presidential nominee, and Senator John McCain is the Republican presidential nominee. The political parties (or independent candidates) in each state submit to the chief election official a list of electors pledged to their candidate for president and equal in number to the state's electoral vote. Each state is allocated a number of electors equal to the number of its U.S. senators (always 2) plus the number of its U.S. representatives. Following election day, on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December, these electors assemble in their state capitals, cast their ballots, and officially select the next president. As a rule, whichever presidential ticket gets the most popular votes in a state wins all of that state's electors (except in Maine and Nebraska). The president-elect and vice president-elect take the oath of office and are inaugurated on January 20th.

The American presidential election between Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain will decide how the USA will relate to the rest of the world for the next decade. The presidential election will also determine whose vision on the economy, energy policy and the role of government will prevail during the next decade.

As Jeffrey Sachs, a professor of Economics and Director of the Earth Institute, Columbia University wrote "In recent Years the United States has been more a source of global instability than a source of global problem-solving. Examples include the war in Iraq, launched by the US on false premises, Obstructionism on efforts to curb climate change, meager development assistance, and the violation of international treaties such as Geneva Conventions. While many factors contributed to America's destabilizing actions, a powerful one is anti-intellectualism." George Bush has been the President of the United States for the past eight years. McCain, though also a Republican like Bush, has been trying to convince voters that he will bring change to the White House. Barack Obama, in contrast, has based his entire campaign on a message of change. Unlike McCain, Barack Obama opposes virtually all of the Bush administration's policies on the war in Iraq, the economy and energy. Obama secured the nomination of the Democratic Party in a tough primary election campaign against the original front-runner, Hillary Clinton. John McCain also had to overcome steep odds against Republican primary contenders. With both Barack Obama and John McCain seasoned during the primary battles, they have started a very tough U.S. presidential election campaign in 2008.

I am registered as an independent voter (neither democrat nor republican). The reason that I have registered as an independent is simply because, for me it is not the party that entices me to vote for their candidate. It is the positions which the candidates who are running for the public offices hold on different issues. Understanding of different issues that are of paramount importance to the people on the main street and the people on the Wall Street and how those issues will be tackled in a way that bring maximum satisfaction to all. As an American of Bangladeshi Origin, I not only look at the positions of the candidates on different domestic issues but foreign issues as well.

It goes without saying that the belligerent foreign policy of the Bush Doctrine has tarnished the image of the United States of America in the international community.

Obama's Campaign for President is built on the premise that it is now time to unite America to solve issues of historic importance. He focuses on his ability to overcome partisan bickering, to work across the aisle, and to produce real results. By emphasizing that we all should believe in the possibility of a new type of politics, Obama has converted many people, including Republicans. Even a die hard McCain Supporter, Kirk Dillard told the Wall Street Journal that "Obama is unique in his ability to deal with extremely complex issues, to reach across the aisle and to deal with diverse people." Campaigning to replace Bush with a unifying leader, Obama has struck a chord across the country-as shown by polls, book sales, enormous crowds, and website groups.

Obama's Iraq plans, health care plans, energy plans, economic plans, ethics plans and education plans are far more superior to that of John McCain's.

Ending the Iraq War, giving priority to real diplomacy as opposed to the cow boy diplomacy of Bush-Cheney doctrine that John McCain holds so dearly in solving problems world wide, introducing universal health care, reducing America's dependency on foreign oil, battling climate change, strengthening national security, ridding Washington of corruption, and improving the education systems are some of the important issues that the Obama campaign laid out in front of the American people.

Barack Obama will bring positive change to America, at a defining moment in its history. His bio reflects wisdom and experience that is essential for transforming the United States. As an Illinois State Senator, Obama developed a reputation for getting things done, as well as delivering an inspiring speech. In his compelling bio and memoirs of his youth, "Dreams From My Father," Senator Obama demonstrated a keen awareness of how to cross the racial and polarizing divides that still define America. From the hometown of his birth, Honolulu to his adopted hometown of Chicago, Obama has been a keen observer of the American experience. He has the insights to transform America, and the gift of speech and pen to inspire the nation.

Senator Obama delivered the keynote address and speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, for the first time demonstrating what a President Barack Obama can accomplish for the American people. He can restore America's confidence in the future. Obama has the potential to provide the United States with the leadership excellence it so urgently needs.

No longer will America be trapped in an ill-conceived war in Iraq, a war that he opposed from the very beginning. Barack Obama has proven that he has the judgment and skill to steer the nation on a new course towards broad, sunlit uplands.

As Time magazine in its September 1st issue writes "Obama's enormous and enthusiastic audiences are evidence that many people are intrigued. "Yes We can " turns out to be a powerful trademark at a time when 3 out of 4 Americans believe the country is on the wrong track. " Barack Obama reflects the widespread feeling among younger Americans that time is marching forward but politics is not.

Millions of People in America and billions of people world wide are witnessing the most severe financial catastrophe in their life time and people are really worried about their future. In a time of distress, Obama projected comfort and confidence. Although anti-black bigotry still exists in America, the most recent polls show that Obama has ten points lead over McCain. However, we can not simply ignore the "Bradley effect" in this coming election. The Bradley Effect is a phenomenon characterized by the tendency of non-white political candidates to perform better in opinion polls than they do in actual elections when they are running against white candidates.

Most specifically, the Bradley Effect often strikes black politicians, although it can just as easily affect Hispanics and other minorities. This interesting phenomenon has been a topic of intense study by pollsters, political analysts, and others, and there are several theories used to explain the Bradley Effect, which is sometimes also known as the Wilder Effect. The concept is named for Tom Bradley, an African-American man who ran for the office of Governor of California in 1982. In polls leading up to the election, Bradley had a clear lead, and numerous media outlets boldly projected that he would win the election.

On election night, however, he lost to the Republican candidate, much to the puzzlement of the Democratic party and many Californians. The same thing happened in Virginia in 1989 in another gubernatorial race, and numerous other instances of the Bradley Effect have been documented at various points in American history. In fact Obama's Charisma and oratory skills are far more advanced than other African-American candidates of the past. Obama has the ability to connect to the people when he speaks. As a daily star columnist rightly said "Barack Obama is inspirational and transformational and brimming with idealistic fervor. It is this idealism that has touched a chord in with the American psyche."

Another reason why the "Bradley effect" may not work this time is because as economy falters race starts receding. Economic anxiety can easily overtake the Bradley effect. Obama's steadiness has trumped his skin color; he is being judged on the content of his character. Obama embodies a new America, more diverse, more tolerant and more open to the world. As America's financial systems buckles, the economy is tottering, the white male and female blue color workers who supported Senator John McCain in the beginning, now have started to understand more about Senator Barack Obama and are leaning towards him.

They feel that Obama is the only person who can rescue them from this financial fiasco. As election date is getting closer and closer, Obama is becoming more for the working man and John McCain has started sinking in the polls because of his "out of touch" economic policy. Now is the time for those of us who will go to the poll on November 4, 2008 to elect the 44th President of the United States of America to ask ourselves as the Economist in its October 4th -10th issue puts "Will we choose the old hero who favors tax cuts for the business and the rich and backed George Bush's Wars? Or the young man who promises health care for all, a swift exit from Iraq and more money for the average worker?" My choice is obvious- the latter.

(Zahid Zamir teaches at York College, City University of New York and is a Research fellow of IERF" E-mail: zzamir@ york.cuny.edu)