We love to see the twinkling faces of children in newspaper, magazines, or on television. It is quite a sight to see the appearances of our brilliant youngsters after they’ve been successful in their respective board exams, with their Golden A plusses.
But do we know the stories behind those successes? In the 90s, we used to hear success stories of exemplary students who had excelled in their board exams. They would explain how they studied 15 to 18 hours every day. Can you imagine an 11-year-old kid studying for 15 hours straight?
In 2010, a very rare and strange thing happened in the history of the education system of Bangladesh. A junior batch (SSC 2013) appeared for the board exam before two senior batches (SSC 2011 & SSC 2012). In 2010, two new board exams had been added to the curriculum: The PSC (primary school certificate) and the JSC (junior school certificate).
The first one takes place after the completion of Class V and the latter, after class VIII. These two exams substituted the Primary and Junior scholarship exams, which were not compulsory. Now, the argument regarding the feasibility and necessity of those two board exams: It is true that, before undertaking this decision, many educationists thought over the issue, but now, after some years, many educationists, academicians, teachers, parents, even students, also do not think these board exams are ultimately helpful to the students or to the education system.
Even in the admission tests of different universities, there was no point of benefit of PSC and JSC exams, unlike SSC and HSC. When a student sits for the PSC, he or she is 10 to 11 years old on average, and 13 to 14 years old at the time of JSC. Can the students feel the importance of the exam at the time? Can all schools provide necessary support to their students?
No one raises theses questions. These primary years are for building the backbone of academic excellence. Instead, we are forcing our kids into an amateurish competition. Schools do not want to nourish the capabilities of students nowadays. They just want to increase the number of A plusses.
In the US, elementary schools include up to the fifth grade. Basic subjects are taught in elementary schools. The curriculum is mainly determined by individual school districts. A rule of “no child left behind” is followed there.
Central exams are taken by states individually. Almost in all the states, such exams are taken after completing grade 12. In China, the law of nine-year compulsory education prevails; primary schools are tuition-free. The primary-school curriculum consists of different basic subjects combined with practical work experience.
A general knowledge of politics and moral training is also part of the primary education in China. Exams are part of the academic system, but are not the only means of judging a student. But in Bangladesh, the situation is kind of hostile. Have you seen a city kid’s schoolbag in the last few years? They are extremely heavy indeed.
The situation is really alarming, and the high court has to enact a rule on this issue as soon as possible. Kids don’t have time to enjoy themselves. Life is bound by school, coaching centres, books, and exams. How can students nurture their creativity in this situation? The time has come to check the true consequences of these exams once again.
Students are losing interest in studying the science disciplines because they are searching for a shortcut towards achieving an A+. Students are being deprived of the fun of education.
But an assessment by a board of educationists is a crying need. In the premises of Dhaka University, Bangladesh Students Union (the student wing of the Communist Party of Bangladesh) had arranged a protest rally demanding the cancellation of the PSC/JSC. School students also attended that rally.
We want our kids to be scientists like Maqsudul Alam or Jamal Nazrul Islam, economists like Muzaffar Ahmed, social entrepreneurs like Fazle Hasan Abed or Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus. How will students be like them if they do not have any real idea about the world out there?
Success in exams might seem good, but it will not be any good in the long run if the students lack creativity. We need to provide our kids with a quality and multi-dimensional education. A+ grades will be forgotten, but creativity or knowledge will lead our country towards progress.