Viqarunnisa parents against pry terminal exams, creative method

The guardians of students of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College yesterday formed a human chain demanding scrapping of primary terminal examinations and creative question method in the tests

They said the examinations put an "extra burden" on the students.

They said these at a programme held under the banner "Guardians of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College" in front of the school's main branch in the capital's Siddheshwari around 1:00pm.

"It is an additional burden on the children at this very level as they need to study a lot for the test which is of no use. Therefore we demand a cancellation of the test," said Dilara Afroz, a student's guardian.

Another guardian Swapna Ahmed said most of the guardians get engaged in an awful competition for securing the highest grades for their children, making them dependent on coaching centres as well as guidebooks.

According a report of the Campaign for Popular Education (Campe), students' expenditure increased after the introduction of the test as the students have become heavily dependent on coaching centres, private tuitions and guidebooks.

About the creative test method, the guardians said many students found it pretty difficult to understand.

"Therefore, we find no other ways but to send our kids to coaching centres," said Ayesha Parvin, a guardian of a fifth grader of the school, adding that teachers at many schools   did not have clear understanding of the method.

Research for Advancement of Complete Education (RACE), a private research organisation, in a recent survey report said more than half of the primary school teachers surveyed were still unclear about the method.

CREATIVE TALENT HUNT

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid yesterday said that the government has taken initiatives to find out and patron the latent talents in the country so that they could lead the nation in future.

He said this while briefing reporters at his ministry on the countrywide creative talent hunt competition kicked off on March 7.

Students from class VI to class XII of schools, colleges, madrasas and technical institutions are participating in the contest.

The grand finale will be held on March 31.