Thursday, 21 November, 2024
Following the political changeover, the interim government has announced reforms in education, stepping away from the education curriculum introduced by the Awami League government.
However, a specific outline for these reforms has yet to be fleshed out.
The caretaker administration hopes to present a well-defined plan for new curriculum development by 2025.
However, students and parents have expressed concerns that continuous changes to the education system will make it difficult for them to adapt.
Experts suggest that to establish a lasting and effective curriculum, the education system should be handled by an independent commission rather than the government.
The Awami League government had introduced a radical overhaul of the education system up to the secondary level with the ‘Curriculum-2022’. Based on this framework, teaching began in 2023 for the first, sixth, and seventh grades.
This year's curriculum also included grades two, three, eight, and nine.
The new curriculum introduced several changes, including the elimination of exams for up to the third grade, the removal of public examinations before the secondary level, and the abolishment of the stream-based system in the ninth and tenth grades.
To ease pressure on students, a learning assessment system was implemented throughout the academic year, before the summative assessment at the year's end.
Some subjects were evaluated entirely based on this continuous assessment.
However, after the fall of the Awami League, the caretaker administration has announced plans to revert to the science, humanities, and commerce streams in secondary education.
The assessment methods will mirror those of the National Curriculum-2012, which was in place a decade ago.
On Sept 1, a notification signed by Rahima Akhter, deputy secretary of the education ministry’s Secondary and Higher Education Division, said the National Curriculum-2022 is ‘not implementable’ due to issues.
It highlighted the lack of teacher preparation, uncertainty regarding the content and assessment methods, negative perceptions, and institutional capacity deficits as obstacles to implementing this curriculum.
In 2012, the Awami League government introduced a new curriculum based on the National Education Policy-2010, emphasising information technology and creative learning.
This approach faced criticism, particularly around the creative method and public exams such as the Primary School Certificate, or PSC, and Junior School Certificate, or JSC, exams.
To move away from dependence on examinations and rote memorisation, a new curriculum was drafted in 2022.
From 2023, the JSC and JDC exams were abolished, and PSC exams were discontinued in 2022.
Following the fall of the Awami League government, textbook reform is now under way under the interim government led by Yunus.
Speaking to bdnews24.com, Prof Rabiul Kabir Chowdhury, a member of the curriculum wing at the National Curriculum and Textbook Board, or NCTB, said: "So far, only the work of revising textbooks is ongoing; no reforms in the education system have begun."
However, he confirmed that there are plans to draft a new curriculum by 2025 as part of the reform process.
Prof Rabiul said this curriculum would not be based on unilateral opinions but would be developed with input from experts, stakeholders, subject specialists, civil society members, and parents.
He said, “We will focus on the demands of the times, such as the creation of social entrepreneurs, addressing climate change, and sustainable development. We will also examine how to tackle social injustice and determine what our socioeconomic system needs.”
He added, "The method of evaluation necessary to fulfil the objectives of the curriculum will be followed, prioritising the opinions of those involved."
Education Advisor Wahiduddin Mahmud told bdnews24.com that efforts are under way to gather input from both national and international experts.
“We are planning to form an ‘Education Reform Advisory Committee’ next year with these experts. However, education is a large system that encompasses political philosophy, political appeasement, economic frameworks, employment, and much more. The entire system will be reviewed for improvement,” he added.
He also emphasised the need for reforming technical education as part of this broader initiative.
WHAT CHANGES ARE COMING TO TEXTBOOKS?
Those involved in the textbook revision process said there will not be a complete overhaul for the 2025 academic year, but many historical details will be revised and modified.
The NCTB announced in the first week of September that textbooks for the ninth and tenth grades for the upcoming academic year will be printed according to the old 2012 syllabus.
It has been decided that annual examinations for grades six to nine will be conducted after the curriculum is amended and refined. Changes will be implemented in textbooks starting next year, with the updated content set to be taught in classrooms by 2026.
Fatihul Kadir, the chief editor of the NCTB's education and editing wing, told bdnews24.com that a panel of authors and editors was formed in mid-September under the guidance of Education Advisor Wahiduddin to carry out the revisions and adjustments.
He mentioned, “We do not have the time to make fundamental changes to the books; otherwise, they cannot be distributed by the 1st of January.”
When asked about the specific changes, he said: “Misleading information, historical distortions, excessive personal glorification, and false content will be removed from the textbooks. However, we will not completely omit or deny anyone.”
He added, “We will not keep the exaggerations. In discussions about history, the Declaration of Independence included only the name of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, while that of Ziaur Rahman was omitted. This time, Ziaur Rahman's declaration will also be included.”
"There has been an excessive amount of content concerning the Bangabandhu family; we will adjust these elements to a more reasonable level. Similar changes will also be made in madrasa textbooks."
In addition, a portion of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's autobiography, ‘The Unfinished Memoirs’, which has been part of the Bengali curriculum for grades eleven and twelve for a long time, will be removed, said Fatihul.
Kadir said they are currently working on changes and refinements to the textbooks prepared for the 2024 academic year.
“There is no other opportunity as time is very limited,” he added.
NCTB chairman Prof AKM Riazul Hasan told bdnews24.com that the textbooks are being revised and amended under the directives of the interim government. “Any exaggeration in historical events or defamatory content regarding any religion or culture will be removed.”
He mentioned that any changes possible will be made before the manuscript goes to print. "We will continue revising until the print order is given. It will take another 15 to 20 days before the printing order begins."
WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS OF FREQUENT CHANGES?
Parents and students have expressed that after the introduction of Curriculum-22, they had adapted to the new realities. However, with the return to the old syllabus, full engagement is now ‘impossible’. Such frequent changes are affecting their focus.
Akhtar Hossain, an eighth-grade student at Narsingdi’s Dewaner Char Madhyamik Vidyalaya, told bdews24.com that he had become accustomed to practical learning instead of rote memorisation through the new curriculum.
"We used to study joyfully in groups without needing separate teachers or guidebooks. Now, if we have to memorize for exams again, it will be difficult. With changes happening every few days, it is hard to focus on studying, so learning is not happening."
Abrar Ahmed, a seventh-grade student at Mirpur Model Academy School, said the constant changes are putting pressure on them.
"It takes a lot of time to adapt to one change. If another change comes during that time, it becomes difficult to adjust. We just want the changes to stop,” he added.
Abrar's mother, Zakia, emphasised the need for a stable and relevant education system for students.
She said, “Frequent changes are unacceptable. Stop experimenting with their education; they constantly worry about what will happen next. I believe education should be above politics, with a system that allows them to learn something meaningful.”
Educationist Abul Momen told bdnews24.com that changes in education with shifts in power diminish students' interest and continuity in learning.
"Students are being used as 'guinea pigs’. Frequent changes will have negative consequences. These are harmful to children, and adults need to understand this. Sudden changes just because the government has changed is not right," he added.
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?
To resolve the crisis caused by frequent changes, Prof Md Kaykobad suggests that the education system needs to be separated from government control.
He said, "Just because political parties like Awami League, BNP, or Jamaat change does not mean the education system for the Bengali nation has to change as well. We need to view education on a larger scale, not through the lens of any particular party. The system must include what is best for the nation."
He advised developing the curriculum by observing the progress of education systems in countries like Japan and Taiwan.
“Our education researchers will conduct studies, and after 30 to 50 years, they will consider whether changes are needed. Constant changes make no sense. A change in government does not justify altering education plans. Extensive research is necessary," said Kaykobad.
Momen told bdnews24.com that a permanent commission is needed to oversee education reforms, revisions, or improvements.
"Frequent changes keep happening. It starts with good intentions, but the work needs to be understood. And it is a long-term effort. Amidst such instability, it is difficult to achieve good results.
He continued, "We cannot operate with the mentality of simply making changes or scrapping what is deemed bad. Each aspect must be evaluated and addressed appropriately."
The former professor of Chittagong University said the new curriculum was beneficial for students; however, those involved should have worked to clarify its merits to others.
"Lack of communication led to confusion. Others took advantage of this and deemed the system to be of poor quality," he added.
WHERE WILL THE EDUCATION SYSTEM EVENTUALLY SETTLE?
Prof Rabiul said, "The day society stabilises, the education system will stabilise. Whatever method society accepts will prevail. Nothing beyond that will be implemented."
Comments
Following the political changeover, the interim government has announced reforms in education, stepping away from the education curriculum introduced by the Awami League government.
However, a specific outline for these reforms has yet to be fleshed out.
The caretaker administration hopes to present a well-defined plan for new curriculum development by 2025.
However, students and parents have expressed concerns that continuous changes to the education system will make it difficult for them to adapt.
Experts suggest that to establish a lasting and effective curriculum, the education system should be handled by an independent commission rather than the government.
The Awami League government had introduced a radical overhaul of the education system up to the secondary level with the ‘Curriculum-2022’. Based on this framework, teaching began in 2023 for the first, sixth, and seventh grades.
This year's curriculum also included grades two, three, eight, and nine.
The new curriculum introduced several changes, including the elimination of exams for up to the third grade, the removal of public examinations before the secondary level, and the abolishment of the stream-based system in the ninth and tenth grades.
To ease pressure on students, a learning assessment system was implemented throughout the academic year, before the summative assessment at the year's end.
Some subjects were evaluated entirely based on this continuous assessment.
However, after the fall of the Awami League, the caretaker administration has announced plans to revert to the science, humanities, and commerce streams in secondary education.
The assessment methods will mirror those of the National Curriculum-2012, which was in place a decade ago.
On Sept 1, a notification signed by Rahima Akhter, deputy secretary of the education ministry’s Secondary and Higher Education Division, said the National Curriculum-2022 is ‘not implementable’ due to issues.
It highlighted the lack of teacher preparation, uncertainty regarding the content and assessment methods, negative perceptions, and institutional capacity deficits as obstacles to implementing this curriculum.
In 2012, the Awami League government introduced a new curriculum based on the National Education Policy-2010, emphasising information technology and creative learning.
This approach faced criticism, particularly around the creative method and public exams such as the Primary School Certificate, or PSC, and Junior School Certificate, or JSC, exams.
To move away from dependence on examinations and rote memorisation, a new curriculum was drafted in 2022.
From 2023, the JSC and JDC exams were abolished, and PSC exams were discontinued in 2022.
Following the fall of the Awami League government, textbook reform is now under way under the interim government led by Yunus.
Speaking to bdnews24.com, Prof Rabiul Kabir Chowdhury, a member of the curriculum wing at the National Curriculum and Textbook Board, or NCTB, said: "So far, only the work of revising textbooks is ongoing; no reforms in the education system have begun."
However, he confirmed that there are plans to draft a new curriculum by 2025 as part of the reform process.
Prof Rabiul said this curriculum would not be based on unilateral opinions but would be developed with input from experts, stakeholders, subject specialists, civil society members, and parents.
He said, “We will focus on the demands of the times, such as the creation of social entrepreneurs, addressing climate change, and sustainable development. We will also examine how to tackle social injustice and determine what our socioeconomic system needs.”
He added, "The method of evaluation necessary to fulfil the objectives of the curriculum will be followed, prioritising the opinions of those involved."
Education Advisor Wahiduddin Mahmud told bdnews24.com that efforts are under way to gather input from both national and international experts.
“We are planning to form an ‘Education Reform Advisory Committee’ next year with these experts. However, education is a large system that encompasses political philosophy, political appeasement, economic frameworks, employment, and much more. The entire system will be reviewed for improvement,” he added.
He also emphasised the need for reforming technical education as part of this broader initiative.
WHAT CHANGES ARE COMING TO TEXTBOOKS?
Those involved in the textbook revision process said there will not be a complete overhaul for the 2025 academic year, but many historical details will be revised and modified.
The NCTB announced in the first week of September that textbooks for the ninth and tenth grades for the upcoming academic year will be printed according to the old 2012 syllabus.
It has been decided that annual examinations for grades six to nine will be conducted after the curriculum is amended and refined. Changes will be implemented in textbooks starting next year, with the updated content set to be taught in classrooms by 2026.
Fatihul Kadir, the chief editor of the NCTB's education and editing wing, told bdnews24.com that a panel of authors and editors was formed in mid-September under the guidance of Education Advisor Wahiduddin to carry out the revisions and adjustments.
He mentioned, “We do not have the time to make fundamental changes to the books; otherwise, they cannot be distributed by the 1st of January.”
When asked about the specific changes, he said: “Misleading information, historical distortions, excessive personal glorification, and false content will be removed from the textbooks. However, we will not completely omit or deny anyone.”
He added, “We will not keep the exaggerations. In discussions about history, the Declaration of Independence included only the name of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, while that of Ziaur Rahman was omitted. This time, Ziaur Rahman's declaration will also be included.”
"There has been an excessive amount of content concerning the Bangabandhu family; we will adjust these elements to a more reasonable level. Similar changes will also be made in madrasa textbooks."
In addition, a portion of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's autobiography, ‘The Unfinished Memoirs’, which has been part of the Bengali curriculum for grades eleven and twelve for a long time, will be removed, said Fatihul.
Kadir said they are currently working on changes and refinements to the textbooks prepared for the 2024 academic year.
“There is no other opportunity as time is very limited,” he added.
NCTB chairman Prof AKM Riazul Hasan told bdnews24.com that the textbooks are being revised and amended under the directives of the interim government. “Any exaggeration in historical events or defamatory content regarding any religion or culture will be removed.”
He mentioned that any changes possible will be made before the manuscript goes to print. "We will continue revising until the print order is given. It will take another 15 to 20 days before the printing order begins."
WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS OF FREQUENT CHANGES?
Parents and students have expressed that after the introduction of Curriculum-22, they had adapted to the new realities. However, with the return to the old syllabus, full engagement is now ‘impossible’. Such frequent changes are affecting their focus.
Akhtar Hossain, an eighth-grade student at Narsingdi’s Dewaner Char Madhyamik Vidyalaya, told bdews24.com that he had become accustomed to practical learning instead of rote memorisation through the new curriculum.
"We used to study joyfully in groups without needing separate teachers or guidebooks. Now, if we have to memorize for exams again, it will be difficult. With changes happening every few days, it is hard to focus on studying, so learning is not happening."
Abrar Ahmed, a seventh-grade student at Mirpur Model Academy School, said the constant changes are putting pressure on them.
"It takes a lot of time to adapt to one change. If another change comes during that time, it becomes difficult to adjust. We just want the changes to stop,” he added.
Abrar's mother, Zakia, emphasised the need for a stable and relevant education system for students.
She said, “Frequent changes are unacceptable. Stop experimenting with their education; they constantly worry about what will happen next. I believe education should be above politics, with a system that allows them to learn something meaningful.”
Educationist Abul Momen told bdnews24.com that changes in education with shifts in power diminish students' interest and continuity in learning.
"Students are being used as 'guinea pigs’. Frequent changes will have negative consequences. These are harmful to children, and adults need to understand this. Sudden changes just because the government has changed is not right," he added.
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?
To resolve the crisis caused by frequent changes, Prof Md Kaykobad suggests that the education system needs to be separated from government control.
He said, "Just because political parties like Awami League, BNP, or Jamaat change does not mean the education system for the Bengali nation has to change as well. We need to view education on a larger scale, not through the lens of any particular party. The system must include what is best for the nation."
He advised developing the curriculum by observing the progress of education systems in countries like Japan and Taiwan.
“Our education researchers will conduct studies, and after 30 to 50 years, they will consider whether changes are needed. Constant changes make no sense. A change in government does not justify altering education plans. Extensive research is necessary," said Kaykobad.
Momen told bdnews24.com that a permanent commission is needed to oversee education reforms, revisions, or improvements.
"Frequent changes keep happening. It starts with good intentions, but the work needs to be understood. And it is a long-term effort. Amidst such instability, it is difficult to achieve good results.
He continued, "We cannot operate with the mentality of simply making changes or scrapping what is deemed bad. Each aspect must be evaluated and addressed appropriately."
The former professor of Chittagong University said the new curriculum was beneficial for students; however, those involved should have worked to clarify its merits to others.
"Lack of communication led to confusion. Others took advantage of this and deemed the system to be of poor quality," he added.
WHERE WILL THE EDUCATION SYSTEM EVENTUALLY SETTLE?
Prof Rabiul said, "The day society stabilises, the education system will stabilise. Whatever method society accepts will prevail. Nothing beyond that will be implemented."
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