Develop students' proficiency in English

In today's world, English is not just an international language; it is a significant skill, especially in countries where it is not the native language. Without English, engaging in business, politics, diplomacy, and many technological areas has become nearly impossible. In Bangladesh, English education is mandated from the primary level, yet despite years of relentless efforts, the proficiency of students in English remains unsatisfactory. Because students do not develop their English skills from a young age, they end up having to learn English in university, which distracts them from focusing on their own subjects. As a result, they are unable to become proficient in their own fields, leading to negative consequences that they endure throughout their lives.

Last Tuesday (October 15), the results of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations were published. Due to the anti-discrimination student movement, not all students were able to take the exams this year. As a result of the movement, the exams for certain subjects were canceled, leading to a different evaluation method for the HSC this year. The assessments for the canceled exams were based on the candidates' SSC or equivalent exam scores (subject mapping). For the subjects that were examined, evaluations were conducted based on the answer scripts.

The HSC results this year were prepared by combining these two evaluation methods. Many believed that this process would lead to a higher pass rate. However, the average pass rate for the HSC examinations under the nine general education boards has decreased compared to last year. Officials from the Dhaka Education Board assessed that one of the reasons for the decline in the pass rate is the impact of the results in the English subject. The pass rate for the compulsory English subject was lower this year compared to other subjects.

It is not only through the pass rate that the weakness in the English subject can be fully understood. In the past, there have been many instances where students have passed well but still lacked proficiency in English. In Bangladesh, many students who have completed their honors or master’s degrees cannot write or speak English properly. The reason is that many students view English not as a language, but as a complex subject like math or science; they memorize it just to pass, without learning to communicate in English.

This situation is unfortunate, and there has been ongoing discussion about why students have been unable to learn English despite years of study. In fact, in their pursuit of English, other subjects are often neglected as well. What is the way forward? There have been recent discussions about changing the curriculum and forming educational committees. We hope that the new educational committee will think more deeply about the issue of English education. They should discover effective methods through which students can learn English in innovative and practical ways. If we cannot develop students’ proficiency in English, we will be unable to create a skilled workforce capable of competing in the international market. Therefore, we urge the government to focus more on improving students' English language skills.