Letters
Primary Pains
In the issue published on March 1 2013, the Star categorically emphasised on the education system of our country in its cover story. I believe this one of the major problems of our country which should get the utmost attention of policy makers and other vigilant citizens. Our government primary schools fail miserably to provide a standard education to all its pupils. A lack of teacher training and education materials, an excess number of students, the absence of an education-friendly environment and a backdated curriculum are some of the limitations for this, I suppose. On the other hand, primary schools in our cities maintain one kind of 'standard' with another complicated problem of its own. Guardians engage their issues in a silly rat race without knowing what is waiting for them at the end of the tunnel. Instead of focusing on the proper physical and mental growth of students, they only want an A+ mark on their children's mark sheets. Often parents force their children to cram a lesson regardless of whether s/he understood it or not, let alone considering their likes or dislikes. Instead of having a true flavour and taste of education, students only get some bitter juice. Recently, to my surprise, I read in newspapers that students having A+ both in SSC and HSC fail to get through university admission tests. What a pity! I believe cramming, instead of understanding the basic facts, will not bring any good to their future life either.
Indrajit Kumar Das
Chandanaish, Chittagong