Simon Young

In a conversation with The Daily Star, Simon Young, regional director of Asia Venture Markets of Pearson Education, spoke of O-level and A-level students of Bangladesh shining internationally.
Pearson Education is the owner of UK-based Edexcel, the largest certificate awarding body for English medium students in the country. Among 1,693 students awarded by The Daily Star this year for exceptional performance, 1,150 belonged to Edexcel.
Bangladesh outperforms other countries in O- and A-level exams, Young said over the phone yesterday.  “Bangladesh is our number one and our biggest partner in education and the results are really exceptional.”
Accounting, mathematics, and science-based subjects are considered internationally as the toughest ones, in which scoring well is hard, Young said, adding students here were doing well in some of these difficult subjects.
Results of the students reassure the quality of education being provided by schools and teachers in Bangladesh.
“These schools and teachers located here in Bangladesh, are dedicated to providing education of international standards, and are competing [with those in other countries] under the curricula used by the UK. Needless to say, they have done particularly well.”
Students in Bangladesh know what subjects to choose to get into the top universities in the world, Young said.
“They are very savvy about what subjects they should focus on in order to excel the fastest in their careers, and are extremely hard-working and determined.”
In addition to students, who scored As, we must salute those who got Bs. Even a B grade is given great regard internationally.
However, Bangladesh will benefit from a rounded, holistic qualification by developing its vocational education sector.
“Students can gain important skills from such technical training, just as much as they are excelling in their studies right now,” Young said.