The pathetic state of the current education system in Bangladesh

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim.

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barkatuhu.

Dear friends,

I hope you are all well with the infinite mercy of Allah Almighty. I am also well and healthy to accept your prayers and the infinite mercy of Allah Almighty.

The pathetic state of the current education system in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a developing country. Just as the development of the economy, politics and health system is necessary for the development of a nation, the improvement of the education system is also very important. Education is the backbone of the nation - this truth is well known to all. But unfortunately, today's education system in Bangladesh is plagued by various crises, which has become a bad sign for the future generations of the country.

1. Overall picture of the education system

The education system in Bangladesh is divided into three levels - primary, secondary and higher education. In addition, there are various streams including madrasas, technical and private universities. Although the education rate has increased on paper, in reality the quality of education has declined to a great extent. Even though most students pass the exams, they are deprived of basic knowledge.

2. Deterioration in the quality of education

The current deterioration in the quality of education is terrible for the nation. Teacher shortage, lack of quality textbooks, test-based education, and the prevalence of rote learning—these are the reasons why students are lagging behind in acquiring real knowledge. Now, although many students perform well in exams, in reality they suffer from a lack of skills and qualifications.

3. Teacher shortage and neglect

Many schools in Bangladesh still do not have enough teachers. Especially in rural areas, a teacher has to take more than one class. Teachers in private educational institutions work for very low salaries, which breaks their morale. The quality of education can never improve if teachers are not respected.

4. Complexity and lack of reality in the curriculum

Our education system is still theory-centric. There is a lack of real-life topics in the curriculum. Many students memorize only to do well in exams, but cannot use that knowledge in real life. Due to the lack of expansion of technical and science-based education, the number of educated unemployed is increasing day by day.

5. Privatization and Commercialization

Education has now become a business. Private schools, colleges and universities are charging high tuition fees from students. It has become almost impossible for poor families to study in these institutions. As a result, the educational gap between the rich and the poor is increasing day by day.

6. Question paper leakage and corruption

The most shameful aspect of the education system in Bangladesh is question paper leakage. Question paper leakage has occurred at almost all levels from primary to higher secondary at some point. As a result, even talented students become frustrated and moral values are destroyed. In addition, many deserving students are deprived of opportunities due to bribery, influence and corruption in admission tests.

7. Rural and urban education disparity

Whereas urban students get good teachers, coaching and technology facilities, rural students are deprived of these facilities. Many rural schools still lack adequate classrooms, benches and books. As a result, education is not spreading evenly.

8. Lack of technology and limitations of online education

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the need for online education became clear, but then it was seen that most of the students in the country were unable to use technology. Many students in rural areas were disconnected from their studies due to the lack of internet and devices. That deficiency still remains.

9. Lack of moral education and character building

There is almost no moral education in the current education system. Students are interested in earning a degree, but they are moving away from morality, humanity and social responsibility. As a result, crime, corruption and moral degradation are increasing in the society.

10. The curse of educated unemployment

Currently, millions of educated youth in the country are unemployed. They are not getting jobs even after studying for a long time, because our education system is not job-oriented. Employment is not possible with theoretical knowledge alone; skills and entrepreneurial spirit need to be developed.

11. Things to do and possible solutions

To get out of this miserable situation of the education system, it is important to take some practical steps—

1. Teachers' salaries and status must be increased.

2. We must stop rote learning and introduce a competency-based curriculum.

3. Strict measures must be taken to stop question paper leaks.

4. Technology and infrastructure must be improved in rural educational institutions.

5. Government supervision must be strengthened to prevent the commercialization of private institutions.

6. Moral education and the practice of human values must be increased.

The education system of Bangladesh is currently in a deep crisis. However, it is a country of indomitable nations—where there is will and initiative, change is possible. If the government, teachers, guardians, and society work together to improve the quality of education, Bangladesh will be able to turn around from this tragic situation very quickly. Education is not just about reading books; it is a symbol of a nation's thinking power and self-esteem. Therefore, improving the quality of education must be the main goal of national progress.