Five thousand pianos worth approximately Tk400m that the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education distributed to government run primary schools in 2011 are of no use because teachers and students cannot play them.
In 2011, the primary and mass education ministry distributed 5,000 pianos to government run primary schools.
The South Korean Booyoung Company donated the pianos to the ministry. A spoke person for the company said the pianos cost $1000 each.
Most of the primary schools have not even unpacked the musical instrument, while in some schools, the pianos were found in the headmaster’s office being used as tables.
At the Gabtoli Government Primary School, the piano was in the head teacher’s room covered with a tablecloth and books placed on top. No one could tell from far there was a piano underneath.
Ariful Islam, a student of the school said he didn’t even know the school had a musical instrument. He didn’t know what a piano is and never saw it in the school.
Head teacher of the Monipur Government Primary School Aminul Islam admitted that teachers are not trained to play the instrument.
He said: “If we are given traditional Bangladeshi musical instruments, that would be better.” S M Salah Uddin who is the head teacher of Dhoar Government Primary School in Mirpur admitted teachers and students of the school can’t play the musical instrument. He said: “Without proper training, it is not possible to play it.”
Director General of the Directorate of Primary Education Shyamal Kanti Ghosh admitted the pianos are not played in the schools but he said they were trying to provide some training for the teachers so they could play them.
The DG said: “A training for teachers will soon be conducted so that they can teach students how to play it.”
