Subject on ICT at Class VI suggested

The sub-committees on modifying textbook curriculum of secondary-level education have suggested introducing a new subject on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at Class VI.
They also recommended lessening the existing 200-mark of two-part Bangla course at class VI by 50, and incorporating some new topics in Bangla first-paper which will be skilled based.
The committees submitted their draft reports on modifying curriculum of secondary-level to Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid at a programme at National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) yesterday.
On March 2, the government formed three committees for modifying the curriculum of secondary textbooks of class VI, VII and VIII.
The national curriculum committee would review the drafts and direct the government to print books in line with the recommendations. Students of the three classes would get the books in 2012 academic year.
The committees made modification on the Bangla subject and Samajik Biggyan [Social Science]. The students of these classes would read Bangladesh O Bishwa Parichoy instead of Samajik Biggyan as per the recommendation of the committee. The ICT subject would be 50-mark course, said sources.
At the event, the education minister said though modification of curriculum is a continuous process, no major modification was made after 1996.
"By this time, massive advancement in field of education, science and technology has been taken place and our students are studying with the old curriculum," he said.
The government has taken the initiative to bring changes in curriculum in line with the National Education Policy, he said, hoping that the modification would bring a qualitative change in education system.
The entire curriculum of secondary education would be modified in phases from 2013, he added.
Dr Siddiqur Rahman, professor of Dhaka University and a curriculum adviser, said the upcoming curriculum would enhance student's creativity further.
Dr Suraiya Parvin, convenor of the sub-committee on ICT, stressed the need for extensive training of teachers on ICT as the subject would be introduced for the first time.