| Education of Bangladesh
Highest allocations for education in the national budgets during the nineties show that the government has attached topmost priority to human resource development though education. The goal of 'Education for All' is being vigorously pursued in the country. The education system is divided into 4 levels-- Primary (from grades 1 to 5), Secondary (from grades 6 to 10), Higher Secondary (from grades 11 to 12) and tertiary. Alongside national educating system, English medium education is also provided by some private enterprises. They offer 'A' level and 'O' level courses. There is also Madrasa system which emphasizes on Arabic medium Islam-based education. This system is supervised by the lone Madrasa Board of the country.
Compulsory primary education, free education for girls up to class ten, stipends for female students, food-for educational total literacy movement and nationwide integrated education are some of the major programs being the government in the education sector.
There are 11 government universities and approximately 20 private universities in Bangladesh. Specialized universities are Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Bangladesh Agricultural University and Bangabandhu Shaikh Mujib Medical University.. The number of government and non-government medical colleges stand at 1 3 and 5 respectively. There are 4 engineering colleges, 2845 colleges, institutes, 12553 secondary schools, and 78595 primary schools.
To make higher education accessible to all, an Open University has been set up in the country. A National University has also been set up to serve as an affiliating university colleges across the country.
Alongside the general system of education parallel system known as Madrasha education which offers Islamic education to Muslim boys and girls. Hindus and Buddhists also receive religious education at institutes called Tol and Chatuspathi.
Bangladesh : Media
With the restoration of democratic order, press in Bangladesh enjoys complete freedom today. During 1997-98. there were more than one thousand newspapers and periodicals including 286 dailies in the country, which is much higher than the corresponding figures of 1990. Total circulation of newspapers and periodicals exceeds 2 million. Both Bangla and English language dailies and periodicals are read widely.
Foreign and local news agencies inc1uding state-owned Bangladesh Sanghad Sangstha are operating in Bangladesh.
Government Departments such as Press Information Department. Department of Films and Publications. Department of Mass Communication. Bangladesh Films Archive. Film Censor Board, Press Council, Press Institute, Film Development Corporation and National Institute of Mass Communication are organs of the Ministry of Information which deal with various media-related activities of the government.
The External Publicity Wing under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs looks after the overseas publicity functions of the Government through Bangladesh Missions abroad.
In line with the Privatization Policy, the government has closed down state-owned newspapers in 1997.
State-owned Bangladesh Betar (Radio) has a countrywide network with 10 regional stations. Betar's external service is beamed towards Europe. Middle East, Pakistan, India and Nepal in 7 languages.
Bangladesh Television (BTV) has undergone rapid expansion since its inception in 1964. It has two stations at Dhaka and Chittagong and 11 relay stations throughout the country. BTV has already commissioned a second channel for private sector operators. As per the govt. policy of free flow of information, free use of dish antenna is allowed for receiving foreign television programs via satellite.
The public sector media organizations have taken resolute measures to rectify the distortions which have crept into the national history between 1975 -l996.
Structure of the Education System
Education in Bangladesh has three major stages-primary, secondary and higher education. Primary education is a 5-year cycle while secondary education is a 7- year one with three sub-stages: 3 years of junior secondary, 2 years of secondary and 2 years of higher secondary. The entry age for primary is 6 years. The junior, secondary and higher stages are designed for age groups 11-13, 14-15 and 16-17 years. Higher secondary is followed by graduate level education in general, technical, engineering, agriculture, business studies, and medical streams requiring 5-6 years to obtain a Masters degree.
In the general education stream, higher secondary is followed by college/university level education through the Pass/Honors Graduate Courses (4 years). The masters Degree is of one year's duration for holders of Bachelor Degree (Honors) and two years duration for holders of (Pass) Bachelor Degree. Higher education in the technical area also starts after higher secondary level. Engineering, agriculture, business, medical and information & communication technology are the major technical and technological education areas. In each of the courses of study, except for medical education, a 5- year course of study is required for the first degree.
Different Steams in Education
Primary level education is provided under two major institutional arrangements (stream)-general and madrasha, while secondary education has three major streams: general, technical-vocational and madrasha. Higher education, likewise, has 3 streams: general (inclusive of pure and applied science, arts, business and social science), madrasah and technology education. Technology education in its turn includes agriculture, engineering, medical, textile, leather technology and ICT. Madrashas (Arabic for educational institution), functional parallel to the three major stages, have similar core courses as in the general stream (primary, secondary and post-secondary) but have additional emphasis on religious studies.
Policies and Guidelines of Ministry of Education
Human resource development is at the core of Bangladesh's development efforts and access to quality education is critical to poverty reduction and economic development. The Government is committed to undertaking structural reforms that are expected to bring significant improvements in the education sector. Bangladesh's commitment to education has been clearly stated in its Constitution and development plans with education being given the highest priority in the public sector investments. Education sector allocations are currently about 2.3 percent of GDP and 14 percent of total government expenditure. Maintaining this commitment to the education sector is imperative in order to achieve Education for All (EFA) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The management of the education system falls under two ministries - the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education (MoPME, responsible for primary education and mass literacy) and the Ministry of Education (MoE, responsible for secondary, vocational and tertiary education). Overall there are more than 17 million students at the primary level, and over 8.0 million at the secondary level. Enrolments at the tertiary level are relatively small but growing very rapidly.
Bangladesh has made significant progress, especially in regard to increasing access and gender equity, both at primary and secondary levels. Gross primary enrollment rates rose from 90 percent in the late 1990s to 98 percent in 2003, while a corresponding increase in enrollment rates at the secondary level rise to 44 percent. Gender parity in access to primary and secondary education has also been achieved. These achievements are particularly spectacular when compared to countries in the South Asia region and other countries at similar levels of per-capita income.
The Government is strongly committed to alleviating the existing problems in respect of management and quality through reforms across the education system. At the primary level, MoPME is supported by a multi-donor group through the Primary Education Development Program II (PEDP II), which aims to strengthen educational access, quality and efficiency.
In order to address issues at the secondary and higher levels, MoE has developed a medium-term framework for the secondary education sub-sector, focusing on quality improvements, policy measures and specific actions needed to reform the system. The development of this medium-term framework has benefited from an extensive range of consultations and workshops with stakeholders at the central, district, and upazila levels. The main objective of reforms being proposed is to address systemic governance issues aimed at raising the quality and cost-effectiveness of service delivery, and improve equity of access in secondary education.
MoE is aiming to move towards a devolved system of governance within the current administrative structure. In this system the central government will be responsible for formulating policies, financing, setting quality standards, and monitoring and evaluation etc., while lower levels of government will be responsible for administering the system. MoE is empowering officials at the district and upazilla levels to take greater responsibility in monitoring school performance and ensure public disclosure of information (e.g., SSC passing rates, teacher absenteeism, class sizes, etc.) related to school quality.
To ensure appropriate financial controls, MoE is implementing a Financial Management Reform Program (FMRP). This is intended to increase accountability and transparency in the use of resources
Education Management
Education System in Bangladesh is being managed and administered by two Ministries, Ministry of Education (MoE) and Ministry of Primary and Mass Education Division in association with the attached Departments and Directorates as well as a number of autonomous bodies.
Ministry of Education
This Ministry is concerned with policy formulation, planning, monitoring, evaluation and execution of plans and programs related to post primary secondary and higher education including technical & madrasah education. The line directorates, viz.. Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education and Directorate of Technical Education are responsible for management and supervision of institutions under their respective control.
Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE):
This Directorate is headed by a Director-General who is responsible for administration, management and control of post primary secondary and higher education including madrasah and other special types of education. It is assisted by sub-ordinate Offices located at the division and district levels with project offices at upzillas.
The Directorate of Technical Education (DTE):
This Directorate is headed by a Director-General and is responsible for the management and administration of technical & vocational institutions like polytechnics, monotechnics and other similar types of institutes. It has Inspectorate Offices at the Divisional Headquarters.
Bangladesh National Commission for UNESCO (BNCU):
This organisation functions as a corporate body within the MoE. This is headed by the Minister of Education as Chairman and the Education Secretary as the Secretary-General. The Commission consists of 69 members constituted by eminent educationists and intellectuals interested in educational, scientific and cultural fields of the country. The Secretariat of the Commission is normally headed by a government official designated as Secretary.
Chief Accounts Office (CAO):
In pursuance of the Government policy of decentralization the accounting function of the MoE is done by a separate accounts office under a Chief Accounts Officer (C.A.O).
In addition, the following Staff Departments/Professional Bodies of the MoE perform specialised functions assigned to them:
(i) National Academy for Educational Management (NAEM)
This Academy is the apex training institution under the MoE responsible for providing foundation training to BCS (general education) cadre officers. it also provides in-service training to senior educational administrators and teachers of the secondary and higher secondary levels. This academy is headed by a Director General.
(ii) National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB)
This Board is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Education (MoE). It is responsible for the development of curriculum, production and distribution of textbooks at primary, secondary and higher secondary levels.
(iii) Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics (BANBEIS)
This organisation is responsible for collection, compilation and dissemination of educational information and statistics at various levels and types of education. This organisation is the main organ of the MoE responsible for collection and publication of educational data and statistics. It also functions as the Educational Management Information System (EMIS) of the Ministry. It is also the National Coordinator of RINSACA (Regional Informatics for South & Central Asia).
(iv) Directorate of Inspection and Audit ( DIA)
This Directorate is headed by a Director and is responsible for inspection and audit aimed at improving the standard of education of the Non-governmental institutions at the secondary level.
Further-more, a number of autonomous bodies have a share in the administration of education. These are :
(i) University Grants Commission (UGC)
The University Grants Commission is responsible for supervision of the public and private universities and allocation of government grants to them.
(ii) National University
This is a public affiliating university responsible for academic control of all the affiliated colleges offering courses in Graduate level Pass, Honours and Masters and for conducting Bachelor Degree and Masters examinations.
(iii) Education Boards
Seven Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education are responsible for conducting the public examinations such as Secondary School Certificate and Higher Secondary Certificate level public examinations. The Boards are also responsible for the recognisation of the Non-government and private sector educational institution.
(iv) Madrasah Education Board
This Board is responsible for conducting public examinations from Dakhil to Kamil levels.The Boards are also responsible for the recognisation of the Non-government madrasahs.
(v) Technical Education Board
This Board is entrusted with the task of conducting certificate and diploma examinations in technical education.The Boards are also responsible for the recognisation of the Non-government technical and vocational educational institutions.
(vi) Non-Governmental Teachers' Registration & Certification Authority (NTRCA)
The NTRCA has been established in February 2005 with the mandate to conduct examination for the registration of successful candidates who would be eligible for appointment in the non-government educational institutions. The NTRCA has been created by the government with the objective of improving the teaching quality of the non-government secondary, graduate and post graduate level teachers excluding public and private universities.
Major Initiatives taken by the Ministry
Education Commission 2003 submitted its report in March 2004 and GOB has initiated actions to review and prioritize its 880 recommendations concerning each stream and level of education.
Actually many of the recommendations made by the Education Commission are already in the process of implementation and many are in the pipeline for implementation. Some of the actions are taken in this respect are described below:
Government has enacted Primary Education (Compulsory) Law in 1990 to achieve the universal primary enrolment by 2005 More then 98% of secondary schools are non-government. But Government pays 90% of the teacher and staff salary of these institutions Bangladesh has sustained increased government allocation in education sector from the 1990s Government is currently providing subsidies to create demand for education in favor of the poor and girls Government has initiated the decentralization of primary and secondary education management structure Government has established an autonomous Nongovernmental Secondary Teachers Registration and Certification Authority in order to recruit qualified and trained teachers in secondary level institutions
A large project for the improvement of teaching quality at the secondary level institutions is underway A new apex body named National Teachers Training Authority by restructuring existing National Academy for Education Management (NAEM) is on card. This proposed institution would train both public and private sector teachers from 2005/06 Reorganization of National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) has also started with the objective to separate functions of the Board into two units, e.g., curriculum and textbook. This would enhance competition in textbook production and publishing and enable Board to concentrate on curriculum development
A separate entity named Independent Textbook Evaluation Committee (ITEC) has been established for designing transparent criteria under which individual textbook manuscripts will be evaluated Privatization of textbook production and publication has already started for grades 6 to 10. Publication of all textbooks at the secondary level will be privatized by 2007 An Accreditation Council is being established which would function as a watchdog over the private universities in order to monitor the teaching standard of universities
Major Reforms Undertaken by the Government for Improving Quality of Education
Introduction of unitrack curriculum in secondary level education from 2006
School based assessment (SBA) in secondary level education Reform of existing examination systems in secondary level education Privatization of Textbook Writing and Publication Re-organization of Managing Committee/Governing Body of the Non-Government Educational Institutions Formation of Oversight Committee for Supervision of Teaching at Classrooms Sanction of MPO on the basis of performance of educational institutions Strengthening of Teachers' Training Delivery of Textbooks to the Students on Time Development and Modernization of Secondary, Technical and Madrasah Curricula Retirement and Welfare Fund for Non-Government Teachers Establishment of 10 Foreign Language Centers Distribution of 20000 computers in secondary level educational institutions including Madrasahs Training of secondary level teachers' in computer applications Restructuring of Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education
Restructuring of National Academy for Education Management (NAEM) Restructuring of Personnel of Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chittagong, Jessore, Barisal, Comilla, Sylhet) and NCTB
List of Public Universities
[ university names are in ascending order ]
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University
Bangladesh Agricultural University,Mymensingh
Bangladesh Open University
Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology
Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology
Chittagong Veterinary & Animal Sciences University
Dhaka University
Dhaka University of Engineering & Technology
Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science And Technology University
Islamic University
Jagagnnath University
Jahangirnagar University
Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam university
Khulna University
Khulna University of Engineering and Technology
Mawlana Bhashani Science & Technology University
Noakhali Science & Technology University
Patuakhali Science And Technology University
Rajshahi University
Rajshahi university
Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology
Shahjalal University of Science & Technology
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University
Sylhet Agriculture University
University of Chittagong
List of Private Universities
[ university names are in ascending order ]
Northern University of Bangladesh.
Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology
American International University of Bangladesh
ASA University Bangladesh
Asian University of Bangladesh
ATISH DIPANKAR UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Bangladesh Islami University
Bangladesh University
Bangladesh University of Business & Technology
BGC TRUST UNIVERSITY BANGLADESH
BGC TRUST UNIVERSITY OF BANGLADESH
Brac University
City University
Daffodil International University
Darul Ihsan University
Dhaka International University
East Delta University, Chittagtong
East West University
Eastern University of Bangladesh
Gono Bishwabidyalay
Green University of Bangladesh
IBAIS University
Independent University of Bangladesh
International Islamic University Chittagong
International University of Business Agriculture & Technology
Leading University
Manarat International University
Metropolitan University
North South University
Premier University of Bamgladesh
Presidency University
Prime University
Primeasia University
Royal University of Dhaka
Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology
South East University of Bangl;adesh
Southern University of Bangladesh
Stamford University, Bangladesh
State University Of Bangladesh
Sylhet International University
The Millenium University
The People's University of Bangladesh
United International University
University of Asia Pacific
University of Development Alternative
University of Information Technology & Sciences
University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh
University of Science & Technology Chittagong
University of South Asia
Uttara University
Victoria University of Bangladesh
World University of Bangladesh |
