Review of National Education Policy 2010
1. Introduction
Education is the key to a nation’s development. Education is the principal means to achieve the goal of poverty alleviation. A properly educated nation, which is modern in genius and intellect and forward-looking in thinking, can only put the country at the zenith of its development. That’s why education is the backbone of a nation. The main objectives of an Education Policy in tune with the need of the modern times, with a view to building the future generation as a human resource, efficient in knowledge and technology and inspired with moral values, national tradition and the spirit of liberation war. But it is sorry and heavy-hearted to think that, the misfortunes of the people of our country. Thirty-nine years have passed since our emergence as a free nation, but no Education Policy has been put to implementation. Immediately after our independence, at the initiative of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the Nation, the first Education Commission was constituted to prepare an Education Policy under the leadership of Dr. Qudrat-e-Khuda, a notorious scientist and educationist. That Commission prepared a pro-people, modern and science- oriented education policy on the basis of exhaustive inquiry and contemplation. But, the sequence of the usurpation of power through illicit corridors began with the diabolical murder of Bangabandhu and his family members on August 15, 1975. As a result, the education policy prepared by Qudrat-e-Khuda was not implemented.. However, the national education policy 2010 is considered as one of the best and most practical education policies ever formulated in Bangladesh. It has blended the liberalism of Kudrat-e-Khuda's policy with the aspirations of modern Bangladeshis very effectively. Besides, this policy introduced some radical modifications that, if implemented, have the potential to bring in some significant qualitative changes in the education system of Bangladesh. But it is true that, there are some limitations of our current education policy. In this review, I have tried to find out such shortcomings carefully.
2. Purpose
of the National Education Policy 2010
Education policy in Bangladesh has always been an issue of much anticipation and as well as excited debate. All the governments, from the colonial era to the present-day have tried to formulate and implement individual education policy that reflect their own ideals and vision regarding the nation's destiny. In 2010, Bangladesh got the first education policy that was made open to all for corrective and constructive opinion before final publication. Thus, the national education policy 2010, filled with pledges for reformations and progress, became the true picture of the nation's principles and conscience.
2.1 The vision of National Education Policy
2010
The main vision of National Education Policy 2010 in Bangladesh is to ensure the basic education of its people and to remove illiteracy problem from the country.
2.2 The mission of National Education Policy 2010
The missions of National Education policy 2010 are directed toward the cultivation of human values. It seeks to prescribe ways through which citizens can be groomed to become leaders in pro-people development programs and progress of the society. They will become rational and intellectually accomplished human beings with ethical perceptions, who have respect for their own religion as well as for others' faiths.
2.3 Main goals of National Education
Policy 2010
Education will help people to grow up as non-communal, loyal and efficient persons free from superstitions. And simultaneously, it is only education that can equip the nation to acquire the qualities and skills that will strengthen Bangladesh to work with equal capacity and pace of the global community. This education policy will work as a basis for an education system suitable for the delivery of education which will be pro-people, easily available, uniform, and universal, well planned, science oriented and of high standard according to the constitutional directives and it will also work as a strategy to counter all problems. With this idea in view, the main goals and principles of the National Education Policy 2010 are-
- · To reflect the Constitutional guarantee
at all levels of education and make learners aware of the freedom, sovereignty
and integrity of Bangladesh;
- · To stimulate the intellectual and
practical qualities of the learners so that moral, human, cultural, scientific
and social values are established at personal and national levels;
- ·
To inspire the students with the spirit
of our war of liberation and develop patriotism, nationalism and qualities of
good citizens.
- ·
To create a scientific mindset of the
students and to develop in them the qualities of leadership;
- · To remove socio-economic discrimination
irrespective of race, religion and creed and to eradicate gender disparity; to
develop non-communalism, friendliness, global fraternity, fellow-feeling and
respect for human rights;
- · To create unhindered and equal
opportunities of education for all as per learners’ talents and skills,
- · To ensure skills of high standard education
at different levels so that learners can successfully compete at the global
context;
- ·
To attach substantial importance to
information and communication technology (ICT)
- · To establish a sense of equal status
amongst all citizens of the country to implement a uniform curriculum of
certain basic subjects at the primary level schools of diverse delivery systems
- · To ensure a creative, favorable and
joyful environment for the students at the primary and secondary levels.
- · To help students grow up with sound
moral character through lessons from their respective religious teachings and
moral sciences;
- ·
To ensure proper quality of education at
each level
- ·
To build students as skilled human
resources to fight the challenges of the world
- · To ensure the proper context and
situations in the education system at the higher level that facilitates ideal
cultivation of learning;
- · To promote and develop the languages and
cultures of the indigenous and small ethnic groups;
- · To ensure the education of the
physically and mentally challenged learners;
- · To make the society free from the curse
of illiteracy ;
- · To initiate special measures to promote
education in the areas identified as backward in education;
- · To take necessary steps to create facilities of playground, sports, games and physical exercises in all educational institutions for the healthy growth of the learners;
3. Background
of National Education Policy 2010
Immediately after our independence, at the initiative of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the Nation, the first Education Commission was constituted to prepare an Education Policy under the leadership of Dr. Qudrat-e-Khuda, a renowned scientist and educationist. That Commission prepared a pro-people, modern and science- oriented education policy on the basis of exhaustive inquiry and contemplation. But, due to exercising the sequence of the usurpation of power (murder of Bangabandhu and his family members on August 15, 1975), the education was not implemented. After 21 years, it again took steps to prepare an Education Policy under the regime of Sheikh Hasina in 1996. The Report was ready by 1997. "Education Policy-2000’ was prepared on the basis of that Report. But with the change of power, that Education Policy was shelved again. In 2008, as we formed the government through the victory in national election, the responsibility of updating the education policy prepared earlier with some fixed objectives was entrusted on some eminent educationists and subsequently views of people belonging to diverse classes and professions were received. Since it recognized the importance of public views and reactions to it, this Education Policy has earned a nationwide receptivity. We now have the long-awaited Education Policy by the Ministry of Education. Bangladesh Awami League formed a number of sub-committees including one on educational affairs, with a view to ensuring basic educations of people. Prime Minister Shikh Hasina, ex education Minister Mr. Nurul Islam Nahid, Prof. Dr. A. K. Azad Chowdhury, former Vice- Chancellor of Dhaka University was contributed to prepare the current education policy. The important aspect of this Education Policy is that it emphasizes religion, science and technical education. This Policy attaches importance to the natural sensitivity of people and also to the delivery of education that helps find employment in the material world.
4. Stakeholders
of National Educations Policy 2010
Since,
National Education Policy 2010 is a public policy; hence numbers of stakeholders
are involved with this policy. The main stakeholders of this education policy
are the people of Bangladesh. Specifically
Target Group-
- ·
Children who are taking primary
educations
- ·
Youngers who are considered the asset of
our next generation
- ·
Disadvantaged groups
- ·
Adult Illiterate
- ·
Others people who deserve education
- Implementing
Authority
- ·
Ministry of Education
- ·
Ministry of Public Administration
- ·
Directorate of Primary Education
- ·
Teachers who will teach the learners
- ·
Employers who are making employment
under this policy.
- ·
Government who are ensuring the basic
needs of people
- ·
International NGOs which are providing guidelines,
teaching training, techniques, stipend etc.
5. Relevance
of the National Education Policy 2010
In
Bangladesh, National Education Policy 2010 is meticulously associated to the
following national and international policies.
- Ø Education
Policy 2010 is relevance to SDG Goal no.
4 –Quality Education
- Ø Education
Policy 2010 is relevance to SDG Goal no.5 - Gender Equity
- Ø Education
Policy 2010 is relevance to SDG Goal no.16- Peace and Justice Strong
Institutions
- Ø Education
Policy 2010 is relevance to the policy
of UN’s Education For All (EFA)
- Ø Education
Policy 2010 is relevance to MDG Goal no.
2- Universal Primary Education
- Ø Education
Policy 2010 is relevance to the policy of
National Social Welfare Policy in Bangladesh
- Ø Education
Policy 2010 is relevance to the practice
of Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- Ø Education
Policy 2010 is relevance to the treaties
of UNESCO goals
- Ø Education
Policy 2010 is relevance to the practice
of Social Peace and Justice
- Ø Education Policy 2010 is also relevance to the practice of social equity, values, ethics, norms and social justice.
6.
Consistency
of the National Education Policy 2010
As
a public policy, Education policy 2010 of Bangladesh is very much consistence to
the internal and external legal issues and practices. For Instance, internally,
education policy 2010 is very much consistence with our constitutions.
Specifically, this policy is grounded on the article 17 (free and compulsory education),
article 23 (national culture), article 25 (promotion of international peace,
security and solidarity), article 44(enforcement of fundamental rights) , article
39 (freedom of thought, conscience and speech) of our constitutions which proclaimed most
fundamental rights of human being. Also, this Policy embodies the nation’s
verdict and aspirations, the spirit of liberation war and independence; it
reflects people’s goals and values and thereby follows the basic Constitutional
guideline. This policy is also helps to acquire quality, modern and updated
knowledge of science and technology and evolve as a skilled human resource so
that it may contribute to eradicate poverty, illiteracy, corruption,
communalism and backwardness and build up a developed and prosperous
Bangladesh. On the basis of legal
issues, this policy is important to instill moral values, honesty, patriotism,
accountability and social responsibility into the youths as they acquire
quality modern education and knowledge of contemporary science and technology.
Our
major aim is to ensure that our next generation is provided with real education
and knowledge of science and technology and thereby they will develop into an
efficient and skilled human resource, respectful and committed to people and
inspired by patriotic spirit. From this point of view this education policy is
also consistent with external legal issues. Externally, this education policy
has contributed to ensure the practice of social ethics, social values, belief,
and social justice. Also, this policy help to ensure the education status, literacy
rate of Bangladesh to the other nations. Besides, this policy also helps to create
our largest population’s employment opportunity through accumulating
theoretical and practical knowledge, training and industriousness. Further,
this policy engages multiple social issues and creating awareness of our
largest population. Such as –
- ·
Creating awareness about the negative
effect of early marriage
- ·
Creating awareness about the negative
effect dowry system
- ·
Creating awareness about the negative
effect of illiteracy
- ·
Creating awareness about the negative
effect drug addiction
- ·
Creating awareness about the negative
effect unemployment
- · Engage people with environmental issues (Environmental pollution, climate change, deforestation etc.)
7. Inconsistency of the National Education Policy 2010
Improving quality of education in all tiers especially the higher education was a priority in the education policy. But, there are also some inconsistencies I have found when reviewed this policy. This are-
- After formulated this policy, still it
is not formulated fully and practically due to lacking of proper monitoring and
evaluation
- The current education method is not
fully consistent to our existing nation. Because, the hired education policy
doesn’t suitable to our national context.
· Desegregated policy also creates
inconsistency to our current education system. It resultant the poor output
from the learners. Numbers of poor students doesn’t carry out their studies due
to desegregated policy. Because desegregated policy require lots of assistant
book those are could not managed by the meager learners.
- · Learning methods of student are not
appropriate regarding our current context.
- · Training methods of our teachers are not
adequate.
- · Questions leaked are the most concerned
issues in the current education system. Because, most of the questions of
public examination have been leaked due to lacking of proper and strict monitoring
and law.
- ·
Careless training methods are another
inconsistency of this policy.
- ·
Quality of education is a burning question
of this policy.
- ·
Deficiency of higher education
opportunity is also threat of current education policy.
· After all, education curriculum does not fit with the current job recruitment policy except engineering, medical and science background curriculum. That’s why general students suffer from severely after completed their education life.
I think, such inconsistency will negatively impact our education system as well as socio-cultural issues.
8. Implementation
Planning of the National Education Policy 2010
Education policy 2010
could be implemented in the following stages with a view to ensuring the
following level of education.
- ·
Primary Education
- ·
Secondary Education
- ·
Madrasa Education
- ·
Religious and Moral Education
- ·
Higher Education
- ·
Engineering Education
- ·
Medical, Nursing and Health Education
- ·
Information and Technology
- ·
Business, Agriculture, Law Studies
- ·
Women’s Education
- ·
Fine Arts and Crafts Education, Sports
Education
- ·
Special Education, Health and Physical
Education, Scout,
- ·
Examination and Evaluation level and
- ·
Students' Welfare and Counseling level of
education.
Besides, this policy
could be maintained the following strategies. These are important to implement
this policy. This are –
- · Formulation of Consolidated Education Law
- · Establishment of the Office of Chief Education Inspector
- · Formation of Accreditation Council
- · Formation of Permanent National Education Commission
- · Teacher recruitment, training, transfer and promotion of teachers serving in educational institutions covered by the National Education Policy and beneficiaries of MPOs
- ·
Women's participation must be ensured at
all levels of policy and decision-making.
- ·
Provide Library facilities
- ·
Student welfare and counseling will be initiated and strengthened at all
educational levels
- ·
All public universities will formulate
appropriate rules and conduct a centralized selection test
- ·
To ensure foundation training course for
all level of teachers
- ·
Professional role of NCTB enhance
efficiency in education system
- ·
Adopt decentralized education system
- ·
Coordination role of University Grants Commission
- ·
Provide strategic Teaching through
pictures, colors, attractive and simple education materials, models, rhymes,
songs, games and handiwork.
- · To maintain academic year properly
- ·
Uniform curricula and syllabus
- · Solution to drop-out strategy
- ·
Stipend opportunity
- ·
Attractive and joyful environment
- ·
Adopt
education opportunity for ethnic groups, Street children, ultra-deprived
children and physically challenged students
- ·
Interactive teaching method
- ·
Research initiatives to find out the
appropriate methods for innovation
- ·
community participation
- ·
Special training
- ·
Appropriate legal structure
- ·
nation-wide awakening
- ·
Pre-vocational and Information
Communication Technology education
- ·
Public-private partnership collaboration
- ·
Scholarships
- ·
maintain the standard of education,
curriculum, syllabus and recruitment of teachers expanded IT education
- ·
Computer skills for
government/non-government officials and policy-makers.
- · special allocation for women's education
- Stakeholders also play a significant role in the process of implementation of Education Policy 2010.
These are
- ·
Stakeholders like students, teachers and
officials have given their feedback of
current education policy through their opinion
- ·
Stakeholders can play the role for
implementing the policy in correct way
- ·
Education policy 2010 will be changed
according to the demand of its stakeholders
- ·
Government as well as education Ministry
and Commission as stakeholders have played a vital role for implementing this
policy correctly, legally and wonderfully.
- ·
Stakeholders ensure the check and
balance of education policy
- · Stakeholders must be ensured the quality of this policy through their active engagement
- 9. Coordination of the National Education Policy 2010
Bangladesh is a small
country with a vast population. To ensure the basic education of these vast
populations, the current government of Bangladesh had taken an initiative to
develop the Education Policy in earlier. This is the most important public
policy (Education policy 2010) in Bangladesh which have been coordinated the
exiting following policies in Bangladesh with a view to ensuring a well,
literate, aware and healthy country. Since, education is the root for all kinds
of development; it is related with multiple policies which we have been
considered the main policies for ensuring peace, justice and development of a
country. The relevant policies are-
Coordinate with relevant Policies
- ·
National Environment policy 1992
- ·
National ICT Policy 2002
- ·
National Social welfare policy 2006
- ·
National Agriculture Policy 2010
- ·
National Health Policy 2011
- ·
National Women Development Policy 2011
- ·
National Children policy 2011
- ·
National Skill development policy 2011
- ·
National Science and Technology Policy
2011
- ·
The National Social Security Strategy
2015
- Coordinate with relevant Ministries
Besides, National
Education Policy 2010 coordinates the following ministries
- ·
Ministry of Education
- ·
Ministry of Primary and Mass Education
- ·
Ministry of Social Welfare
- ·
Ministry of Women and Children Affairs
- ·
Ministry of Public Administration
- ·
Ministry of Cultural Affairs
- ·
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- ·
Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change
- ·
Ministry of Information
- ·
Ministry of Law, Justice and
Parliamentary Affairs
- ·
Ministry of Local Government, Rural
Development and Cooperative etc.
10. Sustainability of the National
Education Policy 2010
The national education policy 2010 is considered as one of the best and most practical education policies ever formulated in Bangladesh It has blended the liberalism of Kudrat-e-Khuda's policy with the aspirations of modern Bangladeshis very effectively. Besides, this policy introduced some radical modifications that, if implemented, have the potential to bring in some significant qualitative changes in the education system of Bangladesh. This policy is based on the promises to develop the national education system through enhancing pre-primary and primary education system, Reforming Madrassa education system, restructuring the evaluation and examination system, Quality improvement in tertiary education system, developing the higher education system etc. Since, the nation are being updated day by day, second by second, the existing education policy will update along with such changes. But except some drawback, the still picture of this policy is sustainable. Because, this policy is producing the best output ever, for example, our current literacy rate is 71% (Economic Survey 2018). This literacy rate and education status of our country proved that the current national education policy 2010 is reliable, suitable, and also sustainable.
11. Challenges of the National
Education Policy 2010
Bangladesh
is a small country with a large population. To meet the need of vast population
this country face challenges from every angle. Our national education policy
2010 is not out of this list. National Education Policy 2010 also faces various
challenges in the process of its implementations. The major challenges of this
policy are
·
Budget is the main challenge behind the
implementation of National Education Policy. besides it faces
- ·
Infrastructural challenges
- ·
Corruption
- ·
Inefficiency
- ·
Poor governance
- ·
Political Instability
- ·
poor quality
- ·
High Expense of education material in
pre-primary/ primary level
- ·
Question Leak
- ·
unhealthy competition
- ·
unfair means in the exams
- ·
illegal guidebooks
- ·
Marketing attitudes of coaching centers
- ·
Improper syllabus, text book and Curriculum
- ·
Disintegration
- ·
Lack of proper coordination
- ·
Lack of proper monitoring
- ·
Lack of proper evaluation
- ·
Lack of appropriate committee and
commission
- ·
Lack of highly trained teachers
- ·
Lack of scientific and modern education
equipment and materials
- ·
Lack of adequate trained staff
- ·
Lack of short, mid and long term fund
- · Lack of expert
Nonetheless, it is probably the first time in Bangladesh that government has been trying to implement its education policy gradually. Despite of many fatal flaws, government has some successes in increasing literacy, ensuring gender parity and timely distribution of textbooks in all parts of the country. It is evident that the unexpected outcomes produced during implementation of several steps of the policies are the results of lack of preparedness of the related departments. Had these consequences been foreseen through preceding researches, much of these negative outcomes could have been avoided.
After five years, it is time to ponder on the mistakes and achievements that we have garnered from this much acclaimed education policy. This policy is certainly one of the best policies that Bangladesh has ever achieved. But the fact is many of its excellent provisions are still confined to paper. Again, implementation without proper preparation may cause reverse outcomes that will be even harmful for the future of millions of our students. For the sake of the nation's future, our policy makers must learn from the previous mistakes and take steps to implement the policy, the embodiment of our nation's conscience, with proper research, preparation and adequate resources.
12. Innovations and modifications of
the National Education Policy 2010
Improving quality of education in all tiers especially the higher education was a priority in the education policy. In the policy it has been rightly addressed the teachers as the key to ensuring quality education. From this point of view numbers of changes have been taken into current education policy 2010. This are-
- ·
take immediate steps to make adjustments
between the educational qualification
- · surveys on demand and supply of technical expertise and educational qualification in the job market have to be undertaken
- · Short and mid-term extensive training facilities have to be ensured
- ·
Introduced public-private-partnership
(PPP) to implement the policy
- ·
Expert manpower has to be developed in
accordance with the national demand
- ·
socio-economically backward classes of
the society (students) will get greater priority
- ·
Program have to be implemented
strategically
- · Grading system have been changed into
CGPA 4.00 in terms of GPA 5.00 at higher and higher secondary education level.
- ·
Torturing, pressurizing system removed
from the teaching method today.
- ·
In primary, secondary and higher
secondary level, changed the two tier of public examination (SSC and HSC) into
4 tiers (PSC, JSC, SSC, HSC) in education policy 2010.
- ·
Brought innovation in the graduation
level admission test including online system
- ·
Introduced e-governance system in
education system in terms of traditional system
- · Introduced registration system for all
educational institutions, regardless of their levels and types with appropriate
authority.
- ·
Necessary laws have been enacted.
- ·
Introduced own sources of income for
continuing education system
- · Initiatives have been taken to reduce the
mal practices of coaching center during public examination.
- · Measures are being taken against
counterfeit institutions and corrupt people through investigation.
- · Guidelines have to be prepared to free
the educational institutions from the influence of party politics
- ·
Steps are to be taken to prepare code of
conduct for different levels of education
- · Banks, private enterprises and
philanthropist individuals will be encouraged for sponsoring education
scholarships.
- ·
Service rules of the employees have to be
integrated into statutory regulations.
- ·
Initiatives have to be taken to set up
an IT-based training and education
- · Initiatives have to be taken to encourage Bangla Academy to play the role as translator from different foreign languages books into Bangla
13. Conclusion
In
the long run, after reviewing the policy it can be said that, it is probably
the first time in Bangladesh that government has been trying to implement its
education policy gradually. Despite of many fatal flaws, government has some
successes in increasing literacy, ensuring gender parity and timely
distribution of textbooks in all parts of the country. It is evident that the
unexpected outcomes produced during implementation of several steps of the
policies are the results of lack of preparedness of the related departments.
Had these consequences been predicted through preceding researches, much of
these negative outcomes could have been avoided. This policy is certainly one
of the best policies that Bangladesh has ever achieved. But the fact is many of
its excellent provisions are still confined to paper. Again, implementation
without proper preparation may cause reverse outcomes that will be even harmful
for the future of millions of our students. For the sake of the nation's
future, our policy makers must learn from the previous mistakes and take steps
to implement the policy, the embodiment of our nation's conscience, with proper
research, preparation and adequate resources.
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