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 5 th and 8 th 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

AreasBangladeshTexas Compulsory EducationPrimaryHigh School School Years1012 Free EducationPrimaryHigh School Standard TestSSC – one timeTAKS – Grade level & subjects Other TestsBoard Scholarship (5 & 8)District Benchmark CurriculumEducation BoardEducation Agency FundingGovernment (+ tuition)Local Tax (+ state) Annual PromotionGPAGPA & TAKS School LevelsPrimary, junior, secondaryElem., junior, secondary Yearly CycleYearlyTwo Semesters College CompetencySSC & GPASAT/ACT & GPA Religious EducationYes- MadrasahNo

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  U niversities 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: Ministry of Education, Bangladesh: Secondary Education Regional Information Base, Country Profile- Bangladesh: Houston Academy for International Studies: SAT Testing Center, College Board: Texas Education Agency: