Photo: Messenger
Since the interim government took office, the biggest demand of the countrymen has been reform. In line with that demand, 11 reform commissions have already been formed. Some reform commissions have already submitted their reports. However, education remains a mess. According to educationists and politicians, the 'Education Reform Commission' was needed first and foremost.
Special Assistant to the Ministry of Education (State Minister status) Professor Dr. Md. Aminul Islam announced on December 18 that 'the Education Reform Commission will be formed soon'. Even after a month of his announcement, the Education Commission has not seen the light of day. Education-related people are angry about this.
Education Ministry sources say that although the ministry is prepared, the government is not responding to the formation of the Education Reform Commission for the time being. As a result, even officials of the ministry itself are in doubt about whether the Education Reform Commission will be formed at all. Those concerned fear that the Education Reform Commission will remain 'unsettled' in the overall situation.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, 'It was necessary to form an Education Reform Commission before everything else, but that was not done. The root of all problems is the education system. If we do not have education, then what can we give, and what can we take? But that commission has not been formed yet.'
The BNP Secretary General said, 'Bangladesh has many problems. The biggest problem is that education has ended. The education system and education are completely over. The quality of education from primary school to university has fallen so low, it cannot be explained. Numerous schools and colleges have been made MPO. Where there are no teachers. Yet, the Honors-Masters are still open.’
Dr. Imtiaz Ahmed, retired professor of the Department of International Relations at Dhaka University, agrees with the statement of the BNP Secretary General. He told the Daily Messenger, ‘The commissions that have been done are also important and urgent. Still, everyone will agree that the Education Commission was important first of all. Everyone should raise questions about why it is not being done or will not be done. Where is the obstacle here?’
Emeris Professor Dr. Sirajul Islam Chowdhury considers the fact that the Education Commission has not been done ‘mysterious’. He told the Daily Messenger, ‘The Education Commission is a simple commission. Is there a lack of specialists here, or are there major political or economic obstacles in working? Why it has been done or is not being done, is a mystery.’
The demand for an Education Reform Commission has been raised from the beginning. The interim government has avoided it for various reasons. In the end, even though the special assistant of the Ministry of Education promised to do so, there is no initiative. Still, the demand for the formation of this commission is getting stronger. Various educational organizations and student organizations have taken to the streets demanding the formation of an education reform commission.
Chhatra Dal Central General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir said “We have been demanding an education reform commission since the beginning. The government has formed many commissions, but it has not formed an education reform commission. The government has not even clarified why it did not do so. We want an education reform commission to be formed quickly. If the interim government does not want to do that, then it should also clarify that in front of its people.”
The government has made many commissions but has not done so. The government has not even clarified why it did not do so. We want an education reform commission to be set up quickly. If the interim government does not want to do that, then it should also make that clear to its nation. There is no room for ignoring this big demand of the student community.’
Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the anti-discrimination student movement, said, ‘We have demanded before, and are still demanding; a commission should be set up quickly for education reform. If necessary, a permanent education commission can be set up. Where non-partisan educationists will be kept. They will make long-term reforms in education and create an education system that is modern and in line with the needs of the nation.
Messenger/JRTarek
