'Reform edn system'

Education system in both the developed and developing countries has been under a process of reform because of technological changes, speakers said at a seminar yesterday.

They suggested incorporating science, technology and skill development courses into the curriculum to prepare the students in a better way to face the challenges of global competition.

Also, better administration in the education sector, substance planning, required funding and international cooperation are needed to achieve a position in the globalised society, they said.

The Centre for Social Science and Public Research of the Independent University, Bangladesh, (IUB) organised the seminar on 'Education in a global society' as part of the university's 10th founding anniversary celebrations. The seminar was held at IDB Bhaban.

Speaking as chief guest, Education Minister Dr M Osman Farruk called for modernisation of the country's education system.

He said the private university act would be amended to ensure quality education as around 30 percent students are now studying at the private universities that offer market-oriented subjects.

In his keynote paper, guest speaker Dr Richard Hopper, education specialist of the World Bank, pointed out that globalisation had brought both opportunities and challenges and the developing countries would have to resolve the problems of quality education, structural changes and management practices.

Economist Dr Muzaffer Ahmed, a professor of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) of Dhaka University, presented another keynote paper on 'Education in a global society - a developing country perspective'.

The education has become resource- and technology-intensive and the national policy for education needs to be geared towards reducing inequality of opportunities, Dr Ahmed said.

He said equitable, efficient and relevant education would create an environment for participatory process of acquisition of knowledge suitable for the emerging global society.

Former education minister ASHK Sadique said the private universities must ensure quality education to prepare the students in a global atmosphere.

He called on the government to take necessary steps to ensure quality education at the public universities as well as private universities.

IUB Vice-Chancellor Prof. Bazlul Mobin Chowdhury, Ambassador Abul Ahsan and Dr Ahmed S Abbasi also spoke at the seminar.