Education held back by political tangles
Development in education sector remains stagnant despite formation of seven education commissions and committees since independence and three others during the Pakistan regime, as none of their reports or recommendations has been implemented due to political tangles.
Millions of public money were spent in the process of formulation of the reports, but no political governments took the initiative to implement the recommendations in fear of demonstrations by the opposition, say education ministry sources.
Every political government formed at least one education commission or committee during their tenure, but no report has been made public, let alone being implemented.
The seven education reports were submitted successively by the Qudrat-e-Khuda Commission-1972, Kazi Jafar Commission-1978, Dr Mazid Khan Commission-1983, Mofiz Uddin Education Commission-1988, Shamsul Haque Education Committee- 1997, Dr MA Bari Commission-2002 and Mohammad Moniruzzaman Mia Commission-2003.
Besides, during the Pakistan era, Sharif Commission-1959, Nur Khan Commission-1963 and Hamidur Rahman Commission-1966 were formed but none of their reports were implemented.
Every political government had a tendency to prepare a new education commission report despite having a good one by the previous government only to take political credit, sources in the ministry and Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education say.
There was no significant difference in those ten education reports but every political government initiated a new move and left the new report unimplemented wasting huge public funds, they add.
"I submitted my education commission report in 2004 but the then BNP-Jamaat alliance government did not implement it probably due to fear of demonstrations from opposition parties and students' wings," said Mohammad Moniruzzaman Mia, chairman of the last education commission.
He said the BNP-Jamaat government had formed an implementation committee but he along with other members was not informed.
"My commission spent only Tk 9 lakh but Tk 18 lakh was spent for the Shamsul Haque commission during the Awami League period," he pointed out.
Dr FK Chowdhury, national team leader of Teaching Quality Improvement (TQI) project who was involved in preparing several education reports, said almost all the reports' main goal was to transform entire population into human resources within the shortest possible time.
"Almost all commission reports provided several good recommendations to modernise education system. But our political governments did not implement those, even did not reveal any of those," he told The Daily Star.
A top official of the education ministry says the political governments did not dare implement the reports fearing demonstrations against some issues like teachers-students politics on campus, importance of religious education and teachers' rights.
Leaders of the Awami League (AL) always praise the Qudrat-e-Khuda commission report but did not take initiatives to implement its recommendations even after assuming power in 1996.
On the other hand, BNP leaders also praise Moniruzzaman Commission's report but did not implement it in spite of being more than one year in power after its submission.
Among the ten education reports, Qudrat-e-Khuda Commission, Mofiz Uddin Commission, Shamsul Haque Committee and Mohammad Moniruzzaman Mia Commission presented the most praiseworthy reports.
QUDRAT-e-KHUDA COMMISSION-1972
Qudrat-e-Khuda Education Commission was formed in 1972 headed by the leading educationist and scientist Dr Qudrat-e-Khuda. The commission submitted its report to the then Sheikh Mujib government in May 1974.
The commission suggested some major changes in the primary, secondary and higher secondary levels.
According to its report, primary education would span eight years (Class I to Class VIII) and secondary education four years (Class IX to Class XII). In the field of higher education, a combined degree course of four years and a one-year Master's course in the universities were suggested.
On curriculum, syllabus and textbooks, the commission suggested a uniform curriculum for primary level based on competence. The commission put special emphasis on improved assessment system and suggested letter grading in assessment of students' performance at all levels.
MOFIZ UDDIN EDUCATION COMMISSION-1988
After submission of the Qudrat-e-Khuda Education commission report, the Ziaur Rahman-led government in 1979 took initiatives to review it.
The Advisory Council for National Education styled Interim Education Policy Recommendations were published and the reports of the Mofiz Uddin Commission were brought to light in February 1988.
SHAMSUL HAQUE EDUCATION COMMITTEE-1997
Sheikh Hasina-led AL government constituted a 56-member committee headed by Prof Shamsul Haque. The committee placed its recommendations reviewing Qudrat-e-Khuda Education Commission reports in order to introduce a pragmatic education system suitable for the country.
MOHAMMAD MONIRUZZAMAN MIA COMMISSION-2003
In order to improve the quality of education and initiate a set of reforms to develop the sector, Khaleda Zia-led BNP-Jamaat alliance government undertook several actions including formation of an education commission in January 2003.
The commission prepared a report in three parts, suggested 880 recommendations on all the education sub-sectors, and submitted its report to the government in March 2004.
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