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National Study Report
on
DISTANCE EDUCATION IN SUPPORT OF BASIC
EDUCATION IN BANGLADESH
Prepared by
Prof. Dr. K. M . Sirajul Islam
National Consultant.
Sponsored by UNESCO 1998
CONTENTS
S. No. Topics Page
Foreword 1. ABSTRACT 1 2. COUNTRY PROFILE 1 3. DISTANCE EDUCATION 2 3.1 What i sDE? 2 a) Printed materials and H o m e Experiment kits 2 b) T V or Radio services 3 c) Tutorial Services and Counseling 3 d) Assignment and Assessment 3 3.2 WhyDE? 3 3.3 Methodology and Procedure 4 3.4 Appropriateness of D E in Bangladesh 4 a) Socio-cultural and linguistic homogeneity of learners 4 b) N o . oflearner in a particular course 4 c) Easy access to Electronic M a s s Communication Media 5 d) Availability of Writers, Tutors etc 5 e) Delivery System 5 3.5 CostAnalysis 5 4. BASIC EDUCATION FOR ALL (BEFA) AND IT'S POSITION IN BANGLADESH .... 6 4.1 W h a t is Basic Education ? 6 4.2 Some obstacles in Implementing Basic Education for All 8 4.3 Steps taken by government 8 5 JUSTIFICATION OF DE TO SUPPORT BEFA IN BANGLADESH 9 g THE ONGOINGN OVERALL OPERATION IN BANGLADESH TO REACH THE 11
GOAL OF BEFA a Formal and Non-Formal Approach of P M E D 12 a-1 Primary Education 12 a-2 Non-Formal Primary Education 13 a-3 Early Childhood Care, Education and Development 13 a-4 Adult Education 13 a-5 Realizing the B E F A goal 15 b) Comprehensive D E approach : B I D E & B O U 14 c) Other Programs 18 d-1 Radio Bangladesh ( R B ) 18 d-2 Bangladesh Television ( B T V ) 19 d-3 D F P & D M C 21 e) Role of other Ministries 21 f) Roleof other agencies and N . G . O s 21 7 EFFECTIVENESS OF DIFFERENT MASS MEDIA 22 8 A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF THE EXISTING SITUATION OF MASS MEDIA SUPPORT 22
FOR BEFA IN BANGLADESH. 9 CONCLUSION 24 9.1 Potentials 24 9.2 Problems and issues 25
CONTENTS OF DIAGRAMS AND TABLES
Topics Page
COST ANALYSIS 5
STRATEGIC F R A M E W O R K OF BASIC EDUCATION IN BANGLADESH 7
IN-SCHOOL AND OUT OF SCHOOL POPULATION BY SEX AND AGE FOR THE YEARS 9 1974,1981 AND 1991
INTERCENSAL A N D PROJECTED ALL AGE LITERACY POSITION 10
THE ONGOING OVERALL OPERATION IN BANGLADESH TO REACH THE GOAL OF 11 BEFA
EDUCATION FOR A L L : SOCIAL MOBILIZATION 14
OPERATION THROUGH DISTANCE EDUCATION 16
OWNERSHIP OF RADIO 18
REACH OF RADIO 19
OWNERSHIP OF TELEVISION 20
REACHOFTV 21
EFFECTIVENESS OF DIFFERENT MASS MEDIA 22
PRESENT POSITION OF MASS MEDIA AND ITS APPLICATION TO SUPPLEMENT BEFA 23
ABBREVIATIONS
B. Ag. Ed B.Ed. BEFA BELT BIDE BOU BPF BRAC BTV CALP C.Ed. CELP C M CPE DE DFP DIM DIWS DMC DNFE DPE EFA GO INFEP MBA M.Ed. MIB MOE MOIB NFE PMED PCH RB SSC TV
Bachelor of Agricultural Education Bachelor of Education Basic Education for All Bachelor in English Language Teaching Bangladesh Institute of Distance Education Bangladesh Open University Bangladesh Protibondhi Foundation Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee Bangladesh Television Certificate in Arabic Language Proficiency Certificate in Education Certificate in English Language Proficiency Certificate in Management Compulsory Primary Education Distance Education Department of Film and Publication Diploma in Management Diploma in W o m e n Studies Department of Mass Communication Directorate of N o n Formal Education Directorate of Primary Education Education for All Government Organization Integrated N o n Formal Education Project Master of Business and Administration Master of Education Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Ministry of Education Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Non-Formal Education Primary and Mass Education Division Public Cinema House Radio Bangladesh Secondary School Certificate Television
Foreword
This study report, initiated by U N E S C O , is the outcome of the agreement of heads of nine high population developing countries of the world (Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan) where more than half of the world people are living. O n e of the major aims of the agreement is to work in collaboration, on distance education mode , to supplement the ongoing programs of basic education for all.
In this report attempt is m a d e to find out the prevalent situation of distance education in the country as well as the current positions and potentials of different Ministries in this regard to achieve the goal of basic education for all. At the end of the report suggestion is made for Inter-ministerial collaboration in the effective use of distance education m o d e to supplement basic education programs for all.
November, 1998 Prof. Dr. K . M . Sirajul Islam, National Consultant,
Bangladesh.
National Study Report on
DISTANCE E D U C A T I O N IN SUPPORT O F BASIC E D U C A T I O N in
BANGLADESH
1. ABSTRACT : Bangladesh, one of the most densely populated developing countries of the world, must have to develop its vast untrained population into potential human resource. Hence, the country is committed to ensure basic education for all ( B E F A ) which cannot be achieved through conventional system alone.
The country is blessed with homogeneous monolingual population and flat compact piece of land mass, ideal for economical Radio and T V broadcasting which is very m u c h needed for distance education ( D E ) m o d e of education. Bangladesh Open University ( B O U ) has already started its D E program through Radio Bangladesh (RB) and Bangladesh Television ( B T V ) . Besides, Department of Mass Communication ( D M C ) , B T V , R B etc. have already started limited D E program to supplement life oriented basic education sponsored by themselves as well as by different concerned ministries such as Ministry of Education, Ministry of agriculture, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, etc.. Integrated D E support m a y be effectively arranged for B E F A through formation of Inter-Ministerial Central C o ordination Committee
2. COUNTRY PROFILE :
Situated, between 20°34 and 26°38 north latitude and 88°.01 & 92°41 east longitude, Bangladesh has more than 120 million population in 147,570 sq. k m area. It is one of-the most densely populated agro-based democratic countries of the world with more than 750 persons per sq. k m area. Annual average per capita income is below 300 U S Dollars. About 40% of the population live in poverty. With the high population density, low level of development and low lying compact land mass and very odd geographical location at the vertex of the triangular coastal lines of India and B u r m a , has been confronting a number of natural and m a n made problems. Natural calamities like cyclones, floods, droughts and socio-economic problems like political unrest, high unemployment and poverty are some of them. The people are diligent and the land is fertile. There is bright prospect of unexplored natural resources like natural gas, petrol, etc.. Export of ready m a d e garments and frozen food started flourishing.
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Natural resources of the country are not yet fully explored, industrial development is just started, agriculture, the main source of livelihood is not yet modernized. Untrained and unemployed huge population has become a liability for the country. Education is the basic tool for h u m a n resource development. Hence, the government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh is very keen to convert this untrained human burden into skilled manpower through appropriate life oriented basic education for all.
Geographically Bangladesh comprises a compact flat land mass without any high hills or mountains except south east and north east regions. Almost entire population, except a few thousand tribal people, speak Bangla, the national language. Bangla is also the media of instruction even upto university level of education except in the technical fields. The cultural heritage of the inhabitants are more or less the same. The Curricula, Syllabi and textbooks up to Secondary level of education are centralized. This is an ideal situation for distance education ( D E ) .
There are three tires education system in the country, Primary up to grade 5, Higher Secondary up to grade 12 and after that is the Tertiary/Higher E d u cation. O f these three levels, Primary Education is almost entirely, Secondary Education is partially and Higher Education is almost entirely financed by the Government.
3. DISTANCE EDUCATION :
3.1. What is D E ? : The phrase, Distance Education(DE), is used to describe varieties of educational techniques and combinations of these in which the teachers and the taught are, for the most part, at-a-distance from each other. It is important to recognize that no single medium, radio, print or T V is an essential part of D E . Successful projects have been run without each of them. These three media, however, often in combination with occasional face to face tutorial services, are the most c o m m o n .
The four essential components of the modern distance education system m a y be summarized as follows :-
a) Printed materials and H o m e Experiment kits : It comprises well thought and well planned correspondence texts, set books, charts, posters, simple but effective and economic h o m e experiment kits, etc.
2
b) T V or Radio services : Courses broadcast in T V or Radio net works can not only help the registered learners to supplement their knowledge received through printed materials but can also enlighten millions of other interested listeners too. Audio and video cassettes also play a vital role in D E .
c) Tutorial Services and Counseling : Individual or group tutorials and counseling, short term residential courses, facilities for summer school training for practical lessons etc. can play vital roles in D E .
d) Assignment and Assessment : Practical experiment, self-assessment, reply sheet, examination, etc. are also essential for the evaluation of the achievement of the learners in D E .
The distance Learning system can play vital role both in formal education such as teachers training, class room teaching, engineering and medical education etc. as well as in non-formal education such as community education, health and hygiene, population education, agricultural extension etc.
3.2. W h y D E ? : O n e of the important social objectives of the modern societies is to extend and equalize educational opportunities. The formal system of education cannot achieve this objective unless it is made very extensive. Most of the developing countries cannot cope with the ever increasing demands for education through the formal education system due to high cost.
Another constrain of the formal class room system is that it can admit only the full time students. It cannot satisfy the aspirations of millions of working m e n and w o m e n w h o want basic and continuing education.
Distance education system has a great sociological justification as it can help in extending educational facilities making education easily accessible equalizing educational opportunities. It can carry education to varied and dispersed learners even in remote rural areas and provide education at all levels. It is thus a more democratic system and can respond to varied educational needs of society which the other systems cannot. A s such D E is capable of catering to the needs of a vast and varied clients such as-
i) In service persons w h o want an opportunity to harness the benefit of education for all.
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ii) Drop outs w h o later b e c o m e motivated to resume their education. iii) Persons in geographically remote areas where formal educational
facilities are not available, iv) Socially and economically backward sections of society, v) Persons w h o want to learn & earn simultaneously, vi) Handicapped persons, etc..
Thus w e see that students in D E c o m e from various groups of population and different places. T h e y constitute heterogeneous groups or persons, both males and females of varying age groups, vocations etc. and they m a y be from varying cultures and communities too.
Distance education embodies two separate but interrelated programs-the instructional program developed by the institution and learning program evolved by the learners.
3.3 . Methodology and Procedure : M a s s communication, the basic tool of D E is a sort of team teaching. Educators, Communicators, M e d i a Producers, Supporting Material M a k e r s carry together the responsibility of the planned program.
3 .4 . Appropriateness of D E in Bangladesh : T h e effective an efficient operation of D E in a country depends mainly on the following factors.
a) Socio- cultural and linguistic homogeneity of the learners. b) Number of learners in a particular course. c) Easy access to electronic mass communication media. d) Availability of writers, tutors, etc. e) Availability of efficient communication and delivery system.
a) Socio-cultural and linguistic homogeneity of learners : In Bangladesh almost entire population speak in Bangla and most of the people, except a few thousand aboriginal living in remote areas, are of same socio-cultural back ground. This is an ideal situation for introducing D E
b) N o . of learners in a particular course : In D E system more the number of learners in a particulars course, cheaper is the operation cost. In Bangladesh the target population for B E F A is in the tune of several million This is also an ideal situation in favor of D E .
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c) Easy access to Electronic M a s s Communication Media : Electronic Mass Media such as Radio and T V play vital role is D E , especially for illiterate mass. In Bangladesh land mass in compact and there is no high hills. That has created an ideal situation for coverage of Radio and T V Broadcasting through ground relay stations.
d) Availability of Writers, Tutors etc. : Experienced writers, tutors are very m u c h needed for preparation of course package and its efficient operation. Starting of D E in formal education by Bangladesh Institute of Distance Education (BIDE) in 1985 and operation of Bangladesh O p e n University ( B O U ) since 1992, have already paved the path of creating needed writers, tutors etc.
e) Delivery System : Efficient Delivery System plays an important role in efficient operation of D E program. True it is that Bangladesh Post and Telegram system is not yet quite efficient and reliable. T o supplement it either special courier services m a y be introduced or the postal services m a y be improved further.
From the presentation above, it is quite evident that in Bangladesh almost all the needed factors in support of D E are available.
3.5. Cost Analysis : Analytical studies on D E cost, have shown that the total
N o of student
costs are of two types. Those which are invariant with student numbers i. e. fixed costs and those which change as student numbers change i.e. variable costs, In D E system fixed costs tend to be high, because there are large investments in teaching aids, such as correspondence materials, audio and
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video production and broadcast, etc. The variable cost such as electricity, postage, marking, supervisory service etc. tend to be relatively low; but more there are the students, the lower is the average cost. Expert studies, even in the developed countries, have shown that the cost per graduate at the open university is almost one third of those in the conventional universities. The cost pattern of the open university vis-a-vis the conventional university usually takes the shape as shown in the diagram.
The diagram shows that although conventional systems are cheaper when student numbers are low, beyond a certain point the rapidly rising variable costs of conventional universities makes them increasingly more expensive.
4. BASIC EDUCATION FOR ALL (BEFA) AND IT'S POSITION IN BANGLADESH.
A s a participant to the World Conference on Education for All (EFA) held in Jomtien, Thailand in 1990; World Conference on Children Rights held in N e w York in 1990 and E F A Summit Conference of Nine High Population Countries held in N e w Delhi, India in 1993; and as a signatory to the declarations thereof the government of Bangladesh set the four following national targets for achieving Basic Education for All ( B E F A ) by the year 2 0 0 0 :
i) T o raise gross enrollment rate from 76 per cent (1991) to 95 per cent, ii) T o raise female gross enrollment rate from 70 per cent (1991) to 94 per cent, iii) T o reduce dropout rate at primary level from 60 per cent (1991) to 30 per cent, iv) T o raise adult literacy rate from 35 per cent (1991) to 62 per cent
The government has also m a d e a political commitment of attaining a total literacy by the year 2006.
4.1. W h a t is Basic Education ? : Basic education means ai. ability to read and comprehend simple statements of everyday life, a2« ability to write simple statements of everyday life,
b. ability to work out everyday arithmetic, c. Basic education also refers to the acquisition of knowledge and skills for
survival, such as developing habits to prevent diseases, maintain good health, etc.
6
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK OF BASIC EDUCATION IN BANGLADESH
Universal Primary
Education
6-10 Years
Preparedness
for School/ECE
4-5 Years
Non-formal Basic
Education
6-14 Years
Adult Education
15-35 Years
Continuing
Education
Compulsory
Primary Education
Increased
Attendance
and Retention
Increased
Enrollment
and Access
Enhanced
Completion/
Achievement
Contributing
to Basic Education for All
Bangladesh
Goal by 2000
95% Enrollment
70%
Completion
62% Adult
Literacy
Bangladesh Goal by 2000
BTOUIS lôompleters £]Propout
Source : Primary and Mass Education Division, 1994
7
d. Basic education also covers continuing learning for new knowledge and for sustaining and advancing previously acquired knowledge and skills.
4.2. S o m e obstacles in Implementing Basic Education for All : Information received from different sources reveal that there are m a n y obstacles in achieving B E F A . S o m e of them are :
i) Irregular attendance of schools by the enrolled students. ii) Large scale dropouts before completion of grade five. iii) Higher dropout rate of girls than the boys. iv) Rural urban disparity in education opportunities. v) Insufficient number of schools, class rooms, sitting arrangement and
teachers, vi) Most of the productive labour force are not interested in literacy, vii) M a n y parents are too poor to provide their children with clothing and
stationary needed for school, viii) Families find it difficult to send their children to school as innumerable
number of children work at h o m e , on the farm and elsewhere to keep up family subsistence,
ix) M a n y parents are not encouraged to send their daughters to school as many schools have insufficient number of female teachers,
x) School inspection and accountability for quality education is weak.
Moreover, there is inadequate fund and facilities for proper arrangement of B E F A as well as there is lack in proper motivation for illiterate parents to send their children to primary schools.
In context of the obstacles mentioned, D E can play an important supplementary role in implementing B E F A and m a n y countries have already started their program for providing basic education through D E . The n a m e of Allama Iqbal Open University of Pakistan is worth mentioning here.
4.3. Steps taken by government : T o achieve the targets of B E F A and commitment of the government for total literacy it is essential to tap both the formal and non formal systems of education for addressing the total population.
8
With this end in view, compulsory primary Education Act was promulgated in Bangladesh in 1990, made effective in 68 thanas in 1992 and countrywide since 1993. To ensure country wide expansion of N o n Formal Education (NFE) , Integrated N o n Formal Education Project (INFEP) was launched in 1991. In 1992, a separate ministry styled as the Primary and Mass Education Division ( P M E D ) was created. With the successful implementation of the INFEP project it has been upgraded to the Directorate of N o n Formal Education ( D N F E ) in September, 1995.
5. JUSTIFICATION OF DE TO SUPPORT BEFA IN BANGLADESH
The following analysis of the available data (Source : Statistical year Book of Bangladesh- 1997) reveals the volume of task involved in achieving the goal of B E F A .
IN SCHOOL AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL POPULATION BY SEX AND AGE FOR THE YEAR 1974, 1981 AND 1991
In thousand
Year
1974
1981
1991
Sex
Both Male Female
Both Male Female
Both Male Female
5-9 Year Total People 13119 6600 6519
14158 7183 6975
18391 9505 8886
In School 2464 1454 1010
3185 1777 1408
7212 3837 3375
Out of School 10655 5146 5509
10973 5406 5567
11179 5668 5511
10-14 Year Total
9181 4987 4194
11650 6226 5424
13442 7175 6267
In School 3105 2022 1083
3883 2358 1525
7004 3862 3142
Out of School 6076 2965 3111
7767 3868 3899
6438 3313 3125
15-24 Year Total
10830 5570 5260
14925 7373 7552
18865 9175 9690
In School
1486 1261 225
1860 1445 415
3406 2307 1099
Out of School 9344 4309 5035
13065 5928 7137
15459 6868 8591
The table reveals that in the year 1974 total out-of-school population of age group 5-24 years was 26 million, in 1981 it was 31.9 million and in 1991 it was 33 million showing a rising trend. This is also supported by the following table on Intercensal and projected all age literacy position.
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Intercensal and projected all age literacy position.
Year
1961
1974
1981
1991
1995
2000
Total Pop All age
(million)
50.8
71.5
87.2
104.8
118.7
129.1
Literate Pop All age
(million)
8.3
14.4
17.2
26.0
45.7
71.6
Total Illiterate P O P All Age (million)
42.5
57.1
70.0
78.8
73.0
57.5
All Age Literacy rate
(%)
16.3%
20.2%
19.7%
24.8%
38.5%
55.4%
Estimated population according to B B S has been taken Source : E F A National Action Plan
From the table, it is evident that taking all the measures Bangladesh is apprehending the need of literacy, the basic component of E F A for 57.5 million population of all age group in the year 2000. To achieve the goal of basic education for all in near future is definitely a gigantic task which can not be tackled by P M E D through conventional system alone. Here the inter-ministerial integrated support service through D E can definitely play a very important role.
10
6. THE ONGOING OV ERALL OPERATION IN BANGLADESH TO REACH THE GOAL OF BEFA.
The overall situation of the multidimensional operation to achieve the goal of
B E F A in Bangladesh may be summarized through the following flow sheet.
Basic Education for All
Conventional System of Primary Education
Basic Education Supported by Distance Education Mode
Conventional
P . E .
Non formal
P.E.
D E (Comprehensive) D E (Supp] ementary)
BOU Other Progams
Mass Media under Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Radio Bangladesh
•Bangladesh Television
-Dept. of Film & Publication
-Dept. of Mass Communication
Agencies involved in life oriented education
Ministry of Education
^/Iinistry of Agriculture
Ministry of Fisheries & Livestock'
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare-
Minishy of Environment. & Forest
Other Agencies & N . G . O . S '
F r o m the flow sheet it is quite evident that to tackle the complicated huge
problem of reaching the goal o f B E F A different concerned ministries o f the
11
government of People's Republic of Bangladesh have started individual and
collective efforts. This inter-ministerial activities may be discussed under
following headings.
a) Formal and Non-Formal Approach of P M E D through Directorate of Pri
mary Education (DPE), Directorate of Non-Formal Education ( D N F E )
and Compulsory Primary Education (CPE) Unit.
b) Comprehensive D E approach through Bangladesh Open University
( B O U ) , an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education (MoE) .
c) Other D E programs of Agricultural Department, Government of Bangla
desh and Bangladesh Protibondhi Foundation (BPF), N G O under Minis
try of Social Welfare.
d) Activities of Radio Bangladesh (RB), Bangladesh Television (BTV), De
partment of Film & Publication (DFP) and Department of Mass C o m m u
nication ( D M C ) under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
(MIB).
e) Role of other Ministries involved in life oriented education such as Agri
culture, Fisheries & livestock, Health & Family Welfare, Environment
and Forest, etc..
f) Role of other agencies and N G O s .
a) Formal and Non-Formal Approach of P M E D : Primary and Mass
Education Division ( P M E D ) of the Government of People's Republic of
Bangladesh is mainly responsible to reach the goal of B E F A . For successful
operation two directorates- Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) and Di
rectorate of Non-Formal Education ( D N F E ) have started functioning. For
Supervision, Monitoring, Social Mobilization, etc. another unit is set up at
tached to P M E D named Compulsory Primary Education Unit headed by a
Director General. The main responsibility of D P E & D N F E is to reach the
goal of Universal Primary Education.
a-1) Primary Education : The target group under this program is the chil
dren of the age group 6-10 years. It is estimated that by the year 2000 the
number of children under this age group will be 19.70 million including 9.62
12
million témales. The target is to bring 18.71 million children including 9.04 million females under the formal primary education program by the year 2000.
The objective of this program is universalization of Primary Education through increasing enrollment, specially increasing girls' attendance and completion.
The major constraints of this program are inadequacies of necessary facilities, weakness in management, poverty of parents, etc..
a-2) Non-Formal Primary Education : The objective of this program is to provide a good quality basic education through low cost alternative channels to those w h o were deprived of opportunities for formal schooling and also offer a second chance of learning to the school dropouts.
The target of population is children and adolescents of 6-14 years. The program aims at covering 12.19 million population of this age group by the year 2000 out of an estimated 12.83 million age cohort.
a-3) Early Childhood Care, Education and Development : It is estimated that by the year 2000. the number of children in the age group 4-5 will be 8.40 million. The government wants to bring 4.20 million of these children under early childhood care, education and development program.
The objective of this program is to nurture the children for their physical and mental development and preparing them for school with right attitude and habits.
Major constraint to this program is lack of awareness, information, motivation and facilities.
a-4) Adult Education : The objective of this program is to provide opportunities to 46.9 million illiterate adults by the year 2000 for developing reading, writing and understanding the contents. It also aims at developing need-based functional/vocational skills as well as creating opportunities for them to continue to learn with special focus on w o m e n . Target group is the post-adolescence population of 15-45 years. It is estimated that by the year 2000 the number of population in this age group will be 59.80 million including 29.48 million females.
13
EDUCATION FOR ALL
Support Materials
Folk Media Television
Radio
Source : UNICEF
14
a-5) Realizing the B E F A goal : Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh has already initiated many actions towards realizing the B E F A goals for universalization of access and increasing completion rates at the primary level as well as reducing adult illiteracy. The aim of current national plan is to enhance both their quantitative and qualitative dimensions and also take up all other feasible supportive programs so that the targets set for 2000 can be achieved with the participation, assistance and cooperation of all stakeholders. All action programs in this regard are being taken under two broad categories : Primary Education and Mass Education.
Primary Education (6-10 years) i. Formal Primary Education ii. Non-Formal Primary Education
M a s s Education (4-45 years) i. Early child care, education and development (4-5 years) ii. Non-Formal Basic Education for the Adolescent (6-14 years) iii. Adult Education (15-45 years) iv. Lifelong continuing Education (All ages)
b) Comprehensive D E approach :
B I D E & B O U : In the year 1985 Bangladesh Institute of Distance Education (BIDE) started B . Ed. through D E . This is the first formal academic program that started intensive application of D E . In a country where correspondence course is totally unknown, starting B . Ed. through D E . was definitely a challenging job. The mode of operation of this course is shown in the flow sheet diagram. The success of B I D E facilitated starting of Bangladesh Open University ( B O U ) in 1992 taking B I D E as the nucleus. At present B O U is playing a very important role for the program of Education for All.
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OPERATION THROUGH DISTANCE EDUCATION
General Instruction & Solo
lesson broadcast
CentraLBpdv
Registration
Admission and Counselling
Course materials &
Cassetted lessons
Other Services
T . T . C . - 1 0
(Regional Centres)
Tutorial Service
S u m m e r School
to •o
Registered
Students
Students of
Conventional
Course
16
M o d e of teaching learning process of B O U : A s a distinct mode of imparting education, Bangladesh Open University relies heavily on print materials, electronic media like radio, television and audio-video cassettes and specialized communication such as Computer Networking and Internet. It also offers tutorial services to the students. The use of these techniques helps B O U to take its academic program to the door-steps of learners far and wide. It makes room for in-house education rendering the job of a classroom teacher redundant.
Program of B O U : B O U ' s formal academic program are designed for those w h o are keen to obtain certificates, diplomas and degrees after completion of a definite program of studies. For them Bangladesh Open University has already launched the following eight programs. 1. Bachelor of Education (B Ed). 2. Certificate in English Language Proficiency (CELP) . 3. Secondary School Certificate (SSC). 4. Certificate in Management (CIM). 5. Diploma in Management (DIM). 6. Certificate in Arabic Language Proficiency ( C A L P ) . 7. Bachelor of Agricultural Education (B A g Ed). 8. Bachelor in English Language Teaching (BELT) .
Over 1,30,000 students have already been enrolled for these programs. Some more formal programs namely, (i) B . Sc. In Nursing, (ii) Diploma in Computer Applications, (iii) Higher Secondary Certificate (H. S. C ) , (iv) Certificate in Education (C. Ed.), (v) Master of Education ( M . Ed), (vi) Master of Business Administration ( M B A ) , (vii) Diploma in W o m e n Studies ( D I W S ) and a number of certificate programs under the School of Agriculture and Rural Development will be launched soon.
In addition to the different formal types of education B O U is also planning to arrange regular Radio and T . V . broadcasting community based programs for people w h o are willing to improve upon the level of their knowledge and understanding about the environment and socio-cultural life in general. These programs will be of immense help to facilitate life oriented basic education for the people scattered all over the country. B O U have already chosen more than sixty topics on basic science, agriculture, Pisciculture, poultry, livestock, health, nutrition, ethics and environment.
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c) Other Distance Education Programs : Besides B O U , the Department of
Agricultural Extension, in collaboration with Technical Educational Board
has been running 3 year Agriculture Diploma and several extension courses
and Bangladesh Protibondhi Foundation has been arranging training of
guardians of children with special needs through D E method. In both the
cases printed correspondence materials are supported by tutorial services
through limited face to face communication.
d-1) Radio Bangladesh ( R B ) : The history of Radio Broadcasting in this
region goes back to 1939 when a branch of All India Radio started func
tioning in Dhaka. At present R B has all together 4 channels with an average
broadcasting of 166 hour a day from 8 broadcasting stations. Following is
the distribution of air time for broadcasting Educational Programs.
- Agriculture : 4 hours 30 minuets - Population Education : 5 hours 55 minuets - Support Program to formal Education : 2 hours 30 minuets - Non-Formal Education and B O U Program : 4 hours.
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From the discussion and graphic presentation it appears that R B has been playing an active role as well as have enormous potentials to offer D E support for B E F A . O n e of the weak point of present operation is the system is unidirectional.
d-2) Bangladesh Television ( B T V ) : Established in the year 1964, the erstwhile Pakistan Television in Dhaka was expected to function as Educational T V ( E T V ) but even today education through T V media in Bangladesh is not very remarkable. With a single channel, B T V , the only T V network of the country is playing the role for entertainment, information and very little education for the people. Apart from this national channel, the people of Bangladesh are getting access to the other channels through satellite transmission for entertainment and information. With its charismatic role T V - broadcasting is getting popularity in Bangladesh day by day. Particularly, in the rural areas, the interaction of the people through this media is more effective and popular for the motivation of the people towards development activities.
Bangladesh Television is n o w Telecasting 65 hours of transmission per week through its country-wide networks. The programs are mostly of entertaining
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and informative. Out of the total 65 hours weekly transmission, B T V is telecasting 6.3 hours (i.e. 12.75% of the total programs) program on non-formal education. Most of these are informative and motivational towards agro-economic development, rural health tips, mother and child-care, adult education, history and cultural heritage, etc.. These programs are organized in collaboration with concerned ministries. These are attributed towards the skill development of the people which ultimately contributes to the socioeconomic development of the country. B T V also telecasts 1.5 hours (i.e. 2.3% of the total weekly programs) programs on formal education which implicates to the enhancement of mass literacy of the country. Being the only T V channel of the country, B T V alone cannot fulfill with its limited facilities the demanding on-air time for educational programs. In spite of its limited on-air timing, B T V is also telecasting 185 minutes programs on formal education of Bangladesh Open University, which are produced by B O U .
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REACH OF TV
69%
A2Y-
31%
d-3) D F P & D M C : Besides Radio Bangladesh and Bangladesh Television, Department of Film and Publication (DFP) and Department of M a s s Communication ( D M C ) are the two very important wings of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting ( M O I B ) for mass communication. D F P is responsible for production of documentary films and Government Publications whereas D M C is responsible for screening documentary films and slides through more than 400 commercial cinema houses of the country and mobile vans. D M C is also involved in mass communication through folk media for motivational purpose. If organized properly both D F P and D M C can play important role in supplementing B E F A through D E , especially for motivational purposes.
e) Role of other Ministries : Besides M O E , Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry, Environment and Forest, Ministry of Fishers and livestock's etc. have been playing very important role (see table in page 2 3 ) in supplementing life oriented basic education through various mass media such as Radio, T V , Films, Posters, Pamphlets, Pictorial Charts, etc.
f) Role of other agencies and N . G . O s . : In Bangladesh, especially in education and income generation sectors Non-Government Organization such as B R A C , Grameen Bank , Proshika, Dhaka Ahsania Mission, etc. are actively involved in B E F A .
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7. EFFECTIVENESS OF DIFFERENT MASS MEDIA :
From the above presentation it is quite clear that for basic education, including literacy through D E m o d e , electronic mass media, such as Radio, T V and cinema can play more important role for illiterate population where as print media can add its contribution to literate people involved in planning, administration and implementation.
8. A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF THE EXISTING SITUATION OF MASS MEDIA SUPPORT FOR BEFA IN BANGLADESH.
The existing over all situation of different mass media and its limited application in supplementing B E F A , is shown in the following table
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PRESENT POSITION OF
MASS MEDIA TO SUPPLEMENT BEFA IN BANGLADESH
Type of Media and Programs
1. Radio Programs a) T o supplement B E F A in formal education
b) To supplement B E F A in non-formal system.
c) Life oriented education
2. T V Programs a) To supplement B E F A in formal system. b) To Supplement B E F A in
non-formal education c) Life oriented education
3 . Audio Cassettes a) For formal education b) For non-formal education c) For life oriented edn.
4 ) Video Cassettes a) For formal education
b) For non-formal edn.
c) Fo r life oriented e d n .
5. Films and Slides a) For non-formal education
b) For life oriented edn.
6. Visual Materials (Poster, Pamphlets, etc)
a) For non-formal education b) F o r life oriented e d n . 7 . Folk Media a) For non-formal education b) For life oriented edn.
Production authority
BB/BOU
BB/BOU
BB/BOU/GOt/ NGO«
BTV/BOÜ
BTV/BOTJ
BTV/BOU/GO«
BOÜ/GO../NGO s
GOs/NGOs
GOJ/NGOI
BOU
BTV/BOU/GO»/ NGOf
BTV/BOU/GO«y NGO«
DFP/GO»/NGO«
DFP/GO«/NGOi
DFP/GOi/NGO« DFP/GO«/NGO«
DFP/GOi/NGOl
DrP/GOi/NGO«
Transmission/ Communication
Authority
BB
BB
BB
BTV
BTV
BTV
GOi/NGOi GOc/NGOi
G O I / N G O I
BOU
BTV/BOÜ/GO«/ NGO»
BTV/BOU/GO«/ NGO»
DMC/PCH/GO»/ NGO«
DMC/PCH/GO«/ NGOs
DMC/GOi/NGOi DMC/GOs/NGOi
DMC/GOt/NGO«
DMC/GOi/NGO«
Category of
Clients
Literate/ Illiterate
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do Do Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Literate Literate
Lit./Illit.
Do
Weakness
Unidirectional, Inadequate monitoring
& evaluation Same as above
Same as above
Same as above
Same as above
Same as above
Same as above Same as above Same as above
Same as above
Same as above
Same as above
Same as above
Same as above
Same as above Same as above
Same as above
Same as above
ABBRIVUTIONS : B O U : Bangladesh Open University, B T V : Bangladesh Television, D F P : Department of Films & Publications, D M C : Dept. of Mass Communication, G O : Government Organization, N G O : Non-Governmental Organization, P C H : Public Cinema House, B B : Bangladesh Betar, Lit : Literate, llllt. : Illiterate Sonne : BTV, BB & DFP
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9. CONCLUSION :
From the presentation made in the report, the following potentials, problems and issues could be identified in connection with introducing D E m o d e for supplementing B E F A .
9.1 Potentials :
i) The Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh is quite aware of the need of B E F A for human resource development of the country and is very m u c h committed for this.
ii) Monolingual culturally homogeneous population, compact mass of flat land suitable for reaching broadcast through ground relay station, etc. have made Bangladesh an ideal country to utilize D E m o d e intensively to supplement basic education for all.
iii) Operation of B I D E through D E and its follow up by B O U has already made the country well acquainted with different aspect of D E .
iv) Special writers, producers, tutors, etc. required for D E have already gained their experience through the work for B I D E and B O U . With some orientation their talent m a y be utilized in connection with D E support for B E F A .
v) From the table under item 8, it is quite clear that different government and non-government organizations have already started using mass communications media, the essential components of D E in limited ways to supplement B E F A programs in their respective fields.
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9.2 Problems and issues :
i) Although in a limited w a y D E m o d e is used by different government & non-government agencies but most of the programs are unidirectional with very little arrangement for proper monitoring and evaluation.
ii) There is no inter- organizational co-ordination as a result of which there is enormous scope of duplication.
iii) Most of the programs are not passed through appropriate field tests.
iv) Unlike Allama Iqbal Open University or British Open University, B O U the only organization using full fledged D E system in Bangladesh, does not have any integrated program package for B E F A .
v) The time, energy and money spent to run several courses of B O U with very limited number of students, might be better utilized for D E support to B E F A .
vi) Because of its volume and complexity, the goal of B E F A cannot be reached only through formal and non-formal conventional approach and hence a suitable alternative has to be found out and D E mode is an appropriate alternative .
vii) W a y s and means to be found out for integration of piece meal activities of different government and non-government agencies for reaching the goal of supplementing B E F A through D E . This can minimize duplication of work saving time and resources.
viii) Nine highly populated developing countries of the world (Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan) have already signed an agreement to work together to supplement B E F A through D E . If they can collaborate effectively, some standard appropriate format can be developed for successful operation in the field of D E in supplementing BEFA.
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