Towards Solving a Complex Dilemma

Mohammad A. Rob

Educational system in Bangladesh

Complexity of Education in Bangladesh

Competitive Nature of Education in Bangladesh

Comparison with U. S. Secondary Education

The Complex Dilemma for Change

A Proposal

References

Educational system is both complex and competitive

A complex four-level system: primary, secondary, higher secondary, undergraduate (bachelor, honors), and post-graduate

Four types of institutions: government, government-subsidized, private, and non-government (NGO)

Fully private institutions cater elite groups in all levels

The NGOs mainly cater drop-outs in low levels

The medium of education is Bengali in most government & supported institutions and English in most private institutions

There is a comparable religious education (Madrasah) system

There are competitive scholarship tests in the 5th and 8th grade

There are comprehensive tests in the secondary (SSC, Dakhil, or O-level) and higher secondary (HSC, Alim, or A-level) levels

Tests for government and supported schools are administered by an education Board

Tests for private and English-medium schools are administered by Cambridge University through British Council

There is a competitive entrance examination for almost all undergraduate education

Areas Bangladesh TexasCompulsory Education Primary High School

School Years 10 12

Free Education Primary High School

Standard Test SSC – one time TAKS – Grade level & subjects

Other Tests Board Scholarship (5 & 8)

District Benchmark

Curriculum Education Board Education Agency

Funding Government (+ tuition) Local Tax (+ state)

Annual Promotion GPA GPA & TAKS

School Levels Primary, junior, secondary

Elem., junior, secondary

Yearly Cycle Yearly Two Semesters

College Competency SSC & GPA SAT/ACT & GPA

Religious Education Yes- Madrasah No

Introduction of semester and GPA at the universities

Introduction of GPA at secondary/higher secondary levels

Introduction of objective testing in all levels of education

Tremendous growth of private schools and universities

Reasons and facts about private institutions: Accommodate students who do not qualify for competitive

national universities Parents want quality education for their children Parent want their children to be educated in English Education is considered like any other business enterprise Cost of education is very high Universities adapted the U. S. system of education Schools adapted the British system of education

Competitive mode of education in Bangladesh brings cream of the crops to the society

Bangladeshi students flourish in graduate schools in USA Education system in Bangladesh is slowly changing to U. S.

system – semester, GPA, objective tests Private schools follow British system of education & testing Private universities follow U. S. system of education There is only one U. S. model of school in Bangladesh

Supported by U. S. Embassy TOEFL, GRE and SAT test centers are available in

Bangladesh Degrees in Bangladesh are not recognized directly in U. S. Courses in schools/colleges are not transferable to U. S.

National educational system in Bangladesh is for all - no need to overhaul

Introduce K-12 U. S. model of education in private schools Affiliate with a school district to follow a state curriculum

and testing pattern on math, language, science, etc. Modify the curriculum to accommodate art, history,

geography, etc. on Bangladesh Introduce standard testing such as Iowa testing in various

grades Follow the pattern of a charter/international school in

Houston, Texas or North Carolina Follow the pattern of American International school in

Dhaka, Hong Kong, and other cities in the world Get accreditation: Council of International Schools, etc.

Wikipedia, Education in Bangladesh: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Bangladesh

Ministry of Education, Bangladesh: http://www.educationboard.gov.bd/

Secondary Education Regional Information Base, Country Profile- Bangladesh: http://www2.unescobkk.org/elib/publications/120/

Houston Academy for International Studies: http://www.houstonais.org/index.htm

SAT Testing Center, College Board: http://apps.collegeboard.com/

Texas Education Agency: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/