Over the years, much has been written and said about the state of our education system, and the urgent need for drastic changes to it.
Despite the reform measures the authorities initiate once in a while, however, there has been a general lack of direction in this regard, as there remain major loopholes in the way the education sector has operated over the past many decades.
To that end, the government's recent decision to remove examinations for sixth and seventh grade students -- a decision that was previously taken for students up to grade three -- may be a matter of objection for many.
The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education announced that students in the mentioned grades will no longer have to take examinations, and will instead be evaluated using methods in line with National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) guidelines.
This begs the question: Is eliminating examinations really the kind of reform our children need?
While a no-exam policy has worked well for certain countries, it is an alien concept for the people of Bangladesh, and a drastic move as such could have adverse effects on the kind of positive change we are trying to bring to the system.
Though the consequences of the decision are yet to be seen -- this could very well be the beginning of some much needed transformation that benefits our future generations immensely -- it is important that the revisions being made by the authorities are thoroughly planned.
This cannot be reiterated enough: A healthy education system is one of the biggest pillars that will propel our next generations forward, and if careful measures are not taken, we will be putting not only the children's futures, but also our country's future at risk.
The authorities must continue to deliberate on the adjustments our education sector is in need of, and implement reforms in ways that will be in favour of the future of our nation.
