MAILBOX
Science on the decline
It's no wonder that enrolment in science has been on the decline over the decades in such a "demotivating" education system which is prevailing in Bangladesh. At the age of 13, an eighth grader has to decide whether s/he will study science, humanities or business studies. In some cases, the school decides the fate of students considering their previous academic results. Students' choice of study also often reflects their parents' preferences.
The stereotyped belief that studying science means becoming doctors or engineers demotivates a large number of students from taking pure science subjects for higher education, for example mathematics or theoretical physics. Moreover, graduates with bachelor's and master's degrees in pure science disciplines struggle to find a job in comparison with their counterparts who hold a BBA or MBA degree as there is less opportunities available for the former. Therefore, most private universities don't have a pure science department; rather they expand popular courses of study.
In order to overcome these challenges, the government should make science and technology education a priority in its broad national development strategy. Also needed to enhance science education is public pressure to encourage more students to study science.
Md Khalid Hasan
Institute of Education and Research, University of Dhaka
Rohingya crisis
Thanks to Nazmul Ahasan for his article "If Rohingyas were Hindu" published on August 18, 2017 in the Star Weekend. This article showed us the discriminatory rule of the Indian government about Rohingya Muslims, one of the world's most persecuted minorities. The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and his ruling party BJP seem to support only Hindu migrants. There are many undocumented migrants who live in India but it appears that the policy of the Indian government is: "Keep the Hindus, deport the Muslims". They are ready to accept Hindu refugees but don't want to provide shelter to Rohingya Muslims. This is unfortunate because India could have played an important role in ending the Rohingya crisis. However, it looks like the RSS and BJP believe that "Hindustan is for Hindus only". Therefore, they have no concerns regarding the plight of the Rohingya. It is quite clear that if Rohingyas were Hindu, Modi would take the necessary steps to solve this crisis.
Marshia Afrin
Mirpur, Dhaka
Reviving the golden era of student politics
Student politics can be an arm for retaining the democratic rights of people and ensuring peace in a country. But in our country, 'student politics' lost its true meaning and glory under the influence of party politics in public universities over the past three decades. The active participation of students was seen in the language movement of 1952 and the democracy restoring movement of 1990. However, present-day student politics is an extension of ruling party politics which employ students in a game of exercising power unnecessarily and working for the sake of the political party alone.
It is time to revive the golden era of student politics. Democratic bodies must be established in different educational institutions so that students can represent themselves and establish their rights. Students must be inspired to join politics and grow leadership skills in order to become conscious citizens of the country.
Nafis Sadik
Farmgate, Dhaka
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