The education system of Bangladesh has broken down for continuous hartal declared by the opposition party and deadly violence occurring almost everywhere in the country. This week there is only one active hartal free day. For that, every exams of SSC, NU and also other exams postponed again and again during this week. So, how far is hartal hampering the educational life? Apparently, it seems nothing but in reality there is a tremendous devastating impact as mentioned by the educationists.
Professor Dr. Osman Gani Talukder, vice-chancellor of Varendra University (VU) in Rajshahi said though hartal is a democratic right, it is causing immense harm to the students and common people. He said, responding to the call of the education minister, VU was kept open during the hartal but he mentioned it was not possible for him to ensure security of the students as well as the campus as a private institution like that of a public university.
Moreover, he said, public university authorities and teachers are not accountable to their students but as a private university, he has to maintain a tight academic schedule.
In this regard, he mentioned, he used to make up classes of hartal day usually on Friday and Saturday but he becomes helpless while there are 3-4 days of hartal in a week.
However, this is not the scenario of VU, this is the scenario of apparently all universities, both public and private. Moreover, the teachers and staffs even felt insecure to work during the hartal, as BCL and shibir activists always engaging themselves in deathly clash at the university. Crude bombs and cocktails are blasting often here and there at the campus.
Professor Rezaul Islam, principal of Rajabari Degree College under Godagari upazila, informed the college is kept open during the hartal days and there is a full attendance of teachers and staff but students do not show up due to transport problem.
The hartal is also creating confusion among examinees.
Regarding this, he said one of the degree (pass course) examinees from his college failed to appear at the final examination on Philosophy subject under National University due to hartal.
It is mentionable that, students of national university have fallen into nested loop of exams, as exams under this university has already been postponed more than 7 times. However, how many times the exams will be postponed is still a great question of NU students. They are questioning continuously to know their rescheduled exam date at Eduicon.com Facebook page.
Hartal had a very or somewhat negative impact on education. Hartal prevent student from attending classes, creating increased pressure on them later on their studies and at exam time. The major impact of hartal is the postponement of exams resulting in delays in finishing school session. Hartal delayed education, which can have severe long term effects on younger people's future prospects.
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid earlier urged the political parties not to throw any harmful programmes during the ongoing Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations. But no effect is seen among the political parties. For that, life of 13 lakh students of SSC and equivalent exams is hanging and certainly they are the most sufferers for this hartal. Already, SSC practical exams have been postponed. The SSC exam was scheduled to end on March 7, 2013. But for postponing 5 exams, it is uncertain that, actually when the exam will end.
Education minister said about this, the violence and political instability of Bangladesh has gone so far that, students have negative impact on this for postponing exams again and again.
However, not only exams, classes weren't held at different educational institutes for more than 20 days. To recover the damage, some school, colleges and universities are taking classes during the holiday. But that's not enough. Teachers fear that, students syllabus will not complete in the scheduled time.
It is now all's demand that, all political parties should be more responsible in calling any violent programmes during the SSC and other exams. Students are the future of the country, not the political riot. So, academic activities of educational institutions should continue at any cost.
Source:
http://www.eduicon.com/News/Details/2073.html
