No hope for country’s progress without improving education

Whichever government comes to power in Bangladesh, each promises a wave of development. During the previous Awami League government, we witnessed many such waves. There was some infrastructural development, but nothing was done in the sector that forms the foundation of nation-building—education. The current interim government has also failed in this area. Several commissions were formed for state reform, but not a single education commission. Ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, the political parties have already begun their campaigns. The major parties are making big promises—what they will do if they come to power—but hardly anyone is talking about education. This clearly shows that all our governments and politicians have the same attitude towards education—they are blind to it.

Meanwhile, the quality of education in the country has fallen to an alarming low. Findings from various national and international surveys are deeply concerning. For instance, the World Bank recently revealed that the standard of Bangladeshi eleventh-grade students is equivalent to that of seventh-grade students by international standards. A Singapore-based research organisation reported that a Bangladeshi graduate degree is equivalent to a foundation-level course.

Even more worrying is that Bangladesh’s MBBS degree has not been approved by the World Health Organization. A recent study by the Monitoring and Evaluation Branch of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) found that the number of weak students in English and mathematics at the secondary level has increased further. The standard of secondary education was already in question, and this new deterioration has only added to the concern. In 2019, over 22 percent of eighth-grade students were categorised as ‘poor’ in mathematics; by 2023, that figure had risen to 47 percent.

Our students’ fear and weakness in English and mathematics have been longstanding. Yet these two subjects are fundamental to learning. Science is also linked with them. In today’s modern age, weakness in mathematics, English, and science not only limits one’s prospects in the information technology job market but also undermines one’s basic reasoning ability. Education is not only related to one’s career but also to every aspect of thought and action. A person’s failure ultimately becomes the failure of the state, or the state’s failure becomes the failure of its citizens. In any case, without adequate knowledge in mathematics, science, and related fields, it is difficult to become a competent citizen in the modern world.

Even without looking that far ahead, it can be said that survival in the job market itself has become difficult. The 1974 Bangladesh Education Commission, led by Dr Kudrat-e-Khuda, stated that the aim of secondary education was to supply skilled workers for the national labour market and to prepare talented students for higher education. But since students are not gaining sufficient skills at this stage, many young people are forced to take low-paying jobs or fall behind in their professions.

Today, education in our country has become synonymous with unemployment. Despite much discussion, nothing has changed. Students are not becoming aware, nor are parents. Political parties also remain indifferent. As a result, whichever government comes to power, it takes no urgent initiatives for education. Yet the nation has now reached such a critical juncture that we must, immediately and urgently, become conscious about improving education standards.

We must clearly remember that without improving the quality of education, there can be no progress for the nation. At this point, there is no use blaming one another. The truth is, we are all responsible. The burden of this responsibility lies on all our shoulders. However, it is also true that without proper government initiatives, there is no way out. And to ensure that the government adopts the right approach, we all must keep it under pressure.