Nahid refutes education policy criticism

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid has said there is no scope to dispute the education policy since it was formulated after broad consultations

The minister made the comments in the backdrop of the recent demand by the radical group Hifazat-e Islam for changes to the prevalent education system.

Addressing a programme at the Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in the capital on Sunday, Nahid said, the system of education in the country was established after discussions with Alem-Olamas, educationists and researchers. There was no scope for debate here, he added.

The Hifazat rally on Saturday spoke vehemently against the National Women’s Development Policy, and demanded overhauling of what they termed a “education system bereft of religion”, among other things.

They also proposed that Islamic studies be made mandatory for students starting from primary to the higher secondary levels.

The minister spoke after signing a contract with seven institutions for providing projectors to set up multimedia classrooms in 23,000 educational institutions. The new classrooms will allow teachers to use projectors in classes instead of blackboards.

Nahid said demands had been raised against the national education policy, more than two years after it was passed in Parliament on Dec 7, 2010.

Earlier, the draft was made available on the internet for informing the people and eliciting their feedback.

It was not possible to make progress with just a ‘typical system for education’ and it required an internationally acceptable policy to educate students, Nahid said.

“That is why we formulated the policy after seeking recommendations from education and religious experts. It has allowed for new, modern technology-based teaching methods in schools, colleges and madrasas across the country,” the minister added.