Religion, moral edn not ignored

The draft education policy does not ignore religious and moral education as claimed by different sections since it makes strong recommendations on the subjects, said speakers at a roundtable yesterday.

They however said there is some incompleteness regarding some issues which needs to be reviewed, adding the government should focus on quick implementation of the policy.

The speakers also said there should have been more guidelines about primary education as the draft policy did not make everything clear about it.

Shushashoner Janney Nagorik (Shujan) organised the roundtable styled "Considering the education policy of Bangladesh" at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital.

In the keynote paper, Shujan president Prof Muzaffer Ahmad said it is not rational to say that religion and moral education are neglected in the policy as the subjects are made mandatory in the general education from class III to class VIII.

The subjects like the Quran, Tajbid, Akayid and Fiqah were included in the proposed curriculum for madrasa apart from the religion and moral education from class III to class VIII there, he said.

"Those who are saying that the policy ignored religion and moral education have not read it properly as it emphasised religious education," he added.

Prof Muzaffer said, "Why is there so much talking about the matter? There might be a political motive behind it.

"I do not think the report has any insufficiency regarding teaching of religion and morality from educational point of view. The committee fully approved religious and moral education," he added.

However, the policy does not have direction about infrastructure and measures while extending the primary level, he said, suggesting its quick implementation.

Former education minister Sheikh Shahidul Islam said the subjects which were made mandatory for all would be an extra burden for the madrasa students as usually "less" meritorious students study there.

He also said the proposal to extend primary level up to class VIII is "irrational" and "quite impossible" to implement as it needs huge infrastructure and resources.

He suggested that the education policy be reviewed and the government take more time before going for its implementation.

Dr Kazi Saleh Ahmed, former vice-chancellor of Jahangirnagar University, said there would be difficulties in extending primary level as most of the teachers of this level in the rural areas are not capable of teaching subjects like English and mathematics.

He suggested implementation of the policy on a pilot basis before going for its full implementation.

Prof Syed Anwar Husain of Dhaka University said the policy is not considered as a policy as it cannot be done in only four months.

The people who never think, speak or write about education were involved in the process of formulating the policy, he said, adding though it was a start, the government should take more time before its implementation.

Dr Manzoor Ahmed of BRAC University said the new education policy is entirely acceptable if we consider it from the perspective of directions as the policy gives directions. A policy never gives solution to all problems, he added.

Columnist Syed Abul Maksud moderated the roundtable, while Badiul Alam Majumder, secretary of Shujan, Dr Anwarul Haque, former director general of National Academy for Educational Management (NAEM), Mahmudur Rahman Manna and Biren Shikder, MP also spoke.