Shudir Baran Mazi

Non-discriminatory education as a form of civilization and national development and improvement. Discrimination in education is a sign of extreme poverty. The more unequal the nation is in education, the more backward the nation is in science, the more corrupt the national economy and social life become. The country in the world that gives more respect to education and teachers is more advanced in civilization and science.

Every day teachers are discriminated here, students and parents are also discriminated. Education is education. Public-private discourse in education is undemocratic, irrational, inhumane and contrary to the values and ideals of our liberation war. Education is a fundamental human right and quality born of human beings. To emerge as a developed nation, there is no substitute for the same kind of science-based, secular, practical humanistic education.

But the education system of our country is divided into many streams. As a result, the demand naturally arises not for multi-stream education, but for education in the same stream. Out of which the whole nation will develop into the same faith and nationality. Those on whom the responsibility of education is also divided into many streams. As a result, there is a chaotic environment in the entire education system. We have to get out of this. Education is the best means of nation building and development. And the issues related to education are teachers, students, learning environment, education management, learning environment etc. Day by day the educational disparity has become rampant. Now is the perfect time to find a solution.

In Bangladesh, there are various educational systems and various examinations from the first grade. SSC or equivalent examination can be given in 12 ways. There are 12 educational opportunities for one certificate. Those who study in conventional or ordinary schools take the 'ordinary' SSC examination. And those who study in the Madrasah take the Dakhil exam. A test called Dakhil Vocational is also given.

Those who study in technical give SSC (Vocational) exam. SSC exam can also be given through open university. Private SSC exams are also available. In secondary schools which have English version, SSC exam can be given in English language. For those studying in English Medium (not English version), their SSC equivalent exam is called 'O' Level. In that system, Edexcel and Cambridge Curriculum schools are separated. And scattered across the country are Qawmi Madrasahs; This education has also been recognized by the government. Students who have passed Dawarae Hadith from the Qawmi educational system are awarded the equivalent of Masters. Hafezi and Maulana (title) schools are available in Qaumi.

There are 9 Boards of Education to conduct General SSC and English Version SSC Exams. There are Madrasa Education Boards for two types of submissions in Madrasas. For technical education there is Board of Technical Education. SSC exam can also be given through open university. Private SSC is available under education boards. Lately, violence in English medium schools is on the rise. English medium schools are also spread in divisional and district towns. Most of these are unregistered. Although they test the Edexcel and Cambridge Curriculum, they have no regulatory authority. Boards of education do not regulate them. Qaumi madrasa education has been running in our country since long. They have made multiple boards themselves for their tests. The government does not have much control over them. The negative aspects of discrimination in education are very harmful for the society and the country. After that, there are various mechanisms for collecting excessive fees.

There is unethical pressure on them to produce good results in public examinations. The teachers' society, which is plagued with various problems, can be seen busy demanding demands in front of the National Press Club most of the year. 80 percent of secondary and higher secondary education in the country is completed by private teachers. But they are often neglected. The disparity in pay and other benefits among government, private, MPO and non-MPO teachers and staff following the same syllabus and curriculum and rules is sky-high.

The MPO teachers in the country get a certain amount of money (grant not salary) from the government treasury every month. The facilities offered to private, MPO and non-MPO teachers and staff outside of grants are a joke. They are being discriminated against from joining the job to retirement. Another sad thing is that MPO teachers get grants. Donations cannot be an honorarium. Today in our country is it possible to get house rent for 1000 taka and medical service for 500 taka? Private teachers have to scramble to collect their retirement and welfare money after retirement. Year after year one has to wait like a pilgrim crow. Many died waiting. Here, teachers are constantly discriminated against, students and parents are also discriminated against.

Education for the lower and middle classes of the country is systematically fragmented and devalued. An inefficient system occupying the majority of the country's public education sector; Where corruption, counterfeiting and terrorism reign supreme. A valueless, unskilled chartered class grows dangerously under state neglect; Those who only increase unemployment, cause unrest in the society. The development of radical communal and intolerant classes plays an important role in this process. Trade in education, corruption and mismanagement call into question the credibility of education services. An acute shortage of skilled and trained teachers can be observed. The examination certificate also stands in doubt. The environment for science education became hostile. The practice of internal practical classes almost disappeared. Institutional libraries and labs continue to lose importance. Although cheating is almost eliminated in public exams, what is meant by fair exams is not happening in many cases.

The dominance of coaching-guides, lack of classroom activity and erosion of values threaten the quality of education. From incourses to practical tests—everywhere a new practice authority called the culture of understanding begins. It is very difficult for many parents to bear the cost of quality private schools. Apart from that, in many cases private school students also have to pay the cost of tutors or coaching centers.

Parents of students from poor families are completely unable to afford such expenses. There are several times more private or English medium schools in Dhaka city than government schools. Because of this, financially poor parents have to worry about their children's education. The monthly salary of some private schools in Dhaka is more than Tk 5-10 thousand. And the monthly salary of some English medium schools is more than 20-50 thousand rupees. The condition of our education infrastructure is also pathetic. Most of the schools and colleges do not have proper laboratories, libraries and sufficient number of teachers. But on the other hand thousands of teacher posts are vacant even though they are essential.

Expenditure on education in Bangladesh is among the lowest in the world. Finland, Japan, South Asian country Sri Lanka also spend 6 percent of GDP on education. On the other hand in our country it is less than 2 percent. There is no denying that pay disparity, poor infrastructure, shortage of teachers, unequal teacher-student ratio and gross disparity in different streams of education are major obstacles to the necessary changes in the education system.

The cost of educational materials today is beyond the purchasing power of common people. Secondly, the principle of 'money belongs, education belongs' is given priority here. Public universities have introduced evening courses only for commercial purposes like private universities. Common people today are struggling to pay for their children's education. Education today has become commercialized. The number of private universities is more than the public universities, the number of private schools and colleges is more.

Are the governments of our independent countries, like the British, giving the people of the country as much education as they need to exploit and create clerks? If we do not improve education and teachers, if we do not ensure social status, we will not be able to achieve the standards of a middle-income country or a developed country. Manipulating public education is inhumane, immoral and unconstitutional. Education to please or keep happy a group of people or a group can never bring benefits and welfare for the country and nation. The more the nation invests in education, the more advanced the nation is. They stand at the pinnacle of science, modernity, civilization, humanity, values. They find satisfaction in the pursuit of knowledge.

And now-a-days, attacks on teachers, threats and murders and assaults have become a daily occurrence. This is the shame of the whole nation. In this country, many teachers have been killed and assaulted many times, but most of the incidents have not been brought to justice. As a result, criminals are encouraged to commit such heinous acts, which are extremely dangerous for the nation. When the teachers are protesting on the streets for their right to live and die, the inhuman torture of the state apparatus comes down on the teachers. At various times we see teachers being caned in teachers' agitations.

Then we as a nation look like fools. How neglected are we as teachers? Although education rates have increased at the primary and secondary levels, large disparities remain in the quality of education and access to education. The space for higher grades and promotion of private teachers is very narrow. This is like a golden deer! Teaching in our country is still fourth class in some cases, third class in some cases, second class in some cases and first class in some cases. I don't know of any other country in the world where there is such discrimination among teachers.

Establishment of social status of teachers, separate pay scale and humane education with modern scientific method is the need of the hour. To ignore the demands of the times is to betray the needs of the times. And the consequences of this betrayal are long lasting. Leaking of question papers, organizing to keep a group happy in textbooks etc. The current education system has made the student body self-centered, selfish and mechanized. Many educational institutions do not have playgrounds, sports equipment, adequate facilities for sports. Co-curriculum education is neglected in almost all educational institutions.

The physical and mental development of the students is being severely hampered. Education should be universal and humanitarian. On the basis of education, national unity will be developed, human consciousness will develop, logical and objective thinking will develop and spread instead of blind imitation. According to the recommendation of the Commonwealth, 25% of the country's national budget is supposed to be allocated to the education sector, but no government takes it into account. Due to the indifference of the ruling class, the education system and education policy in the country is shrouded in the moon of indifference. Other South Asian countries have private coaching, but parents in Bangladesh have to spend the most in this sector. This rate is 67 percent here. UNESCO's 'Global Education Monitoring Report-2022' was published on January 3, 2023 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. In this regard, Bangladesh is the most dependent on the private sector in the education system of South Asian countries. Here self-centeredness is given more priority than responsibility through education. Talents are not valued much here.

Nationalization of education will not only benefit the teachers but the entire nation. Our growth and development will be permanent. We understand that education is the only means of progress only when we look at Japan. When Japan was destroyed in the Second World War, Japan planned education with utmost importance to recover from that destroyed position and managed the education system accordingly. In other countries of the world, the social status and individual salary structure of teachers has been established, but there is no trace of it in Bangladesh. Education and teacher's role is crucial in society, civilization, economy and political progress.

The time has come to establish the social status of teachers and individual pay scales for teachers. To put the nation on a strong backbone, there is no alternative to establishing education and social status of teachers and individual pay scales for teachers. In Germany, a teacher is given the rank of Chancellor. In almost all countries of the world, the salary and social status of teachers is second only to that of the President, Prime Minister and Chief Justice. As an ordinary citizen, I can guarantee that it is possible to nationalize this education and fix individual salaries of teachers with half of the money of the country that has been smuggled abroad.

Good will is most needed. Nationalization of education and individual salary structure for teachers is not an option if we want real reform of education in the country. In this case, the government can form a commission for the nationalization of education. If nationalization alone is not possible, the government can make a separate salary structure for teachers. As per the recommendations of UNESCO, teaching profession is declared as the number one profession.

The writer is a, Haimchar Govt. College, Haimchar, Chandpur