Children must not be overburdened with studies, says prime minister

Teachers and guardians should ensure that children are not overburdened with studies, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

“Children should learn in a playful environment; we must ensure that,” Hasina said at the inauguration of National Primary Education Week 2019 at Bangabandhu International Convention Centre on Wednesday.

“They will lose their interest in education if we constantly tell them to study. They will rather be scared of studies. I would request the teachers and guardians to ensure that they don’t become education-phobic.”

“Sometimes I find it’s not the children, but their parents, who are engaged in competition. At times, it’s extreme. I believe it’s an unhealthy competition,” said Hasina.

“Not every student is equally meritorious. Not everyone can perform equally. We have to help them do their best naturally.”

“They should learn embracing the system. Children do not learn only in the institutions but also from their surroundings,” Hasina said.

“You are the future. You have to prepare yourselves by concentrating on your studies. At the same, you have to nurture your talents in sports and cultural activities,” Hasina told the children. 

“We should work toward the goal to ensure the hidden talents in children are nurtured. The child today is the leader of the future. Maybe one of them will become the prime minister of Bangladesh in future.”

“The children with special needs have to be taught too. They are human beings too and have to be accompanied. Other children should come forward to help them and become friends.”

“We have a predisposition to believe that education is not complete unless children learn English, which is not true,” she said.

The government has scrapped the placement test system in Grade I.

“I have seen printed question papers for admission tests in Grade I. Why would they attend Grade I to learn if they can already sit for an admission test with formal question paper? This process should be stopped.”

“Primary schools throughout the country have taken the steps to scrap admission tests. The local schools have to admit every child in schools once they reach the age.”

Hasina mentioned her government’s initiatives on the development of primary education.