Most students don’t watch TV lessons: study
Ninety-four percent of students are aware about TV education being broadcast during the pandemic, but 89 percent of them do not watch the lessons, reveals a study.
The study of Bangladesh Education Reporters Forum was unveiled yesterday.
About 65 percent of secondary students of cities said online education increased their educational expenditures, and it is putting additional financial burden on parents.
Of them, 54 percent said expenditures increased by Tk 501-1,000 per month, 10 percent said it increased by up to Tk 500. Only one percent said they had to spend additional Tk 1,000-1,500, said Mustafa Mollick, president of the forum, while presenting the study.
Many educational institutions have introduced online classes to continue academic activities amid the pandemic. They took the measures as physical locations of all the institutes remain closed since March 17 and will not reopen till November 14, as per the latest government directive.
The forum carried out the study on 1,126 secondary and higher secondary students of Dhaka, Chattogram, Barishal, Khulna, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangpur and Sylhet cities.
Expenditures increased as they need to buy internet packages and routers, and other equipment for attending online classes, forum leaders said.
The study also found that 97 percent of students reported that their family income has reduced, while 63 percent of students are taking part in online education.
The government had started television education through Sangsad TV, so secondary and primary students can make up for losses due to school closure.
Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education Director General Prof Syed Md Golam Faruk, at the programme, said students of cities nowadays prefer attending online classes over taking lessons via TV.
Although physical classes have remained halted for over seven months, schools and colleges continued collecting tuition fees; 93 percent of students said their educational institutes realised full tuition fees.
Campaign for Popular Education Executive Director Rasheda K Choudhury said as parents are financially struggling, the government should provide some incentives for the education sector.
There should be mapping on how effectively distance learning is reaching students, and the government can plan according to that, she said.
Education Minister Dipu Moni said that the government has taken various measures, and telecom operators are offering different packages, so students can get internet access.
"We are giving soft loans to university students, so they can buy devices for attending classes," she said.
While replying to a question, she said that the government will make an announcement in a day or two on whether closure of educational institutes will be extended.