Thrust on science, tech-based curricula

BNP MP gives note of dissent

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications Ministry Wednesday stood divided over the burning issue of Asian Highway as a lone opposition BNP lawmaker on the panel gave note of dissent on the committee''s recommendation for the government to implement the proposed trans-border road, reports UNB.
Briefing newsmen at the Jatiya Sangsad Media Centre in the afternoon, chairman of the standing committee Sheikh Mojibur Rahman said the parliamentary standing committee recommended the government for implementing the project on the Asian Highway along Benapole-Dhaka-Tamabil (AH1) or Banglabandh-Dhaka-Tamabil (AH2) route.
"The meeting recommended making effective the government decision on Asian Highway1 (H1) and Asian Highway2 (H2)," the journalists were told at the briefing.
After the briefing, the lone member of BNP on the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications Ministry Nazrul Islam Manju, who was not present at the briefing, told reporters that he gave note of dissent at today''s committee meeting over recommendation on the Asian Highway. His party goes on harping on apprehension that the government is going to give "transit to India through the Asian Highway route".
The MP from the former ruling party, BNP, said he gave objection to the proposed Asian Highway''s Benapole-Dhaka-Tamabil route but they support the Asian Highway through Banglabandh-Dhaka-Chittagong-Teknaf-Myanmar direction.
"The ESACP-recommended criteria are not followed in the proposed Asian Highway routing, like communications from capital to capital, port to port (sea, land and railway), communications for agricultural, industrial and trade and tourism purposes," he said.
Nazrul Islam Manju said he urged the committee meeting to raise the Asian Highway matter on the floor of parliament for discussion.
"Any unilateral decision of the government over this important matter will be suicidal. It will also create political debate," he told the reporters.
The BNP lawmaker said the government would have to take the decision considering national interest, people''s interest and national security.
The parliamentary standing committee meeting today also recommended deploying BDR and RAB for controlling traffic jams in Dhaka city and other relevant areas, as transport tailback became intolerable, especially in this holy month of fasting and festivals.
The Head of the committee, Mojibur Rahman, said the committee formed a parliamentary subcommittee headed by BNP lawmaker Manju to prepare report and recommendation for reclaining gabbed lands of Railways from Khulna to Noapara.
They also discussed giving 7.5 percent price incentive to local contractors for encouraging the local entrepreneurs as one member said a move was made to abolish the provision for engaging foreign contractors.
Alleged irregularities and corruption in awarding contract for collecting toll of Meghna-Gomoti Bridge by the Communications Ministry under the last BNP government were also discussed. "Even the firm is still collecting toll after the expiry of its five-year term," the briefing session was told.
The meeting recommended stopping payment to the toll collector until the investigation is complete.
It also asked for removing unnecessary speed-breakers on the roads and streets and setting up foot-over bridges at the places.

Demo against leasing gas blocks in Bay

News Report

30 hurt in police protesters clash

At least 30 people were injured as police charged batons on anti-gas-block-lease demonstrators in the city on Wednesday.
Some policemen were also injured in the incident when demonstrators hurled brickbats and stones on them.
The trouble erupted at about 12:30 pm when the demonstrators, under the banner of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, tried to move ahead by breaking the police barricade near Bijoynagar area, witnesses and police said.
The committee, comprising mostly leftwing organisations and individuals, called the protest programme against the government''s recent decision to award gas-exploration rights in the Bay of Bengal to US and Irish oil companies.
The witnesses said several hundred activists took out a procession from Paltan area. As the processionists started moving towards and reached Bijoynagar area to lay a siege to Petrobangla head office, police intercepted them.
"As the protesters tried to break the police barricades, the law-enforcers started charging baton on them, leaving many of them injured," said a witness.
The angry protestors retaliated by hurling brickbats and stones on them. They also damaged few motor vehicles during the melee, witnesses said.
Police said their 12 members were injured as the protestors hurled brickbats on them when they were "trying to maintain order".
The injured include Prof Anu Mohammad, member-secretary of the committee, BSD leader Bazlur Rashid Firoz, Samajtantrik Chhatra Front
leaders Rahat Ahmed, Biplob Mandal, Mintu Biswas, Keshab Lal Samaddar
Srikanta, Iva Biswas and Rokhsana Afroz Asha and its members Anita Baroi, Sangita Baroi, Tania Alam, Taposhi Rabeya Akhi and Fahmina Mouri.
They are now undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
Talking to reporters at DMCH, Anu Mohammad said: "The people have given the government mandate to protect the national resources, but they are trying to hand over the resources to imperialist multinational companies."
Meanwhile, Progotishil Chhatra Jote held a rally at TSC on the Dhaka University campus in protest against the incident. It demanded legal action against those responsible for the incident.

http://www.newstoday-bd.com

Thrust on science, tech-based curricula

The final draft of a new education policy was published Wednesday with recommendations for extending primary education up to class VIII and secondary up to class XII, introducing upgraded curricula based on science, technological, environmental and moral education, reports UNB.
Forming Non-government Teachers Commission and Permanent Education Commission and formulating a new integrated education law are recommended in the long-cherished National Education Policy 2009.
The National Education Policy Formulation Committee handed the final draft of the National Education Policy 2009 to Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid at the ministry.
Headed by National Professor Kabir Chowdhury, the 18-member panel also prescribed introducing one-year pre-primary education for children of five or above five years of age, among other basic changes in the country''s outmoded education system.
While accepting the policy, the minister said the new government decided to formulate a new education policy after assuming of office for updating the education system and its curricula.
He mentioned that eight education policies had been formulated to date now since independence, but none was implemented due to change of governments and shift in their policies.
"We will come out of this culture and expect to implement our education policy within our tenure," he told reporters present at the presentation function.
The minister hoped that objectives of the committee would see success in the overhaul education from primary to higher levels.
The minister said the process of implementation of the Education Policy would start within this year and implementation activities start from next year.
National Professor Kabir Chowdhury said all committee members expressed their opinion freely and "we also received lots of opinion from outside". All of the opinions were examined for formulating a policy in democratic manner.
"We tried our best so that the policy is formulated in a democratic manner. It was formulated on consensus and democratic basis--no forced opinion was incorporated in it," said Kabir Chowdhury, a retired teacher of English of Dhaka University.
About the policy, he said four basic issues were taken into consideration in framing the recommendations:
1. Education Policy should be inclusive. All must be brought under education system.
2. Education system should be based on country''s existing environment and elements and in consistence with the spirit of Liberation War.
3. Strengthening Moral Education.
4. This Policy would work as a basis and war strategy which is capable of giving people-oriented, balanced, universal and quality education.
Dr Quazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Co-chairman of the committee, said: "We all have been able to reach consensus because of our same aims and objectives. We will try to give our opinion if amendment proposals come from any quarter."
The government on April 6 this year decided to form an 18-member committee aimed at formulation of National Education Policy. National Professor Kabir Chowdhury was made Chairman and Quazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad as Co-chairman of the committee.
The committee was asked to submit its report within three months of its first meeting. Later, one more month was extended for submitting the report.
The committee exchanged opinions with 56 organizations and held view-exchange meetings in every divisional city in order to formulate the policy.
Since the independence of Bangladesh, successive governments have formed the following panels: Qudrat-e-Khuda Education Commission 1972, Mofiz Uddin Education Commission 1988, Shamsul Haque Education Committee 1997, Dr MA Bari Commission 2002, Mohammad Moniruzzaman Mia Commission 2003, and the National Education Policy Formulation Committee 2009.
Educationists said different governments, after assuming power, had formed education commissions but their recommendations were not incorporated into the education system--or were shelved in the ministry.
According to sources at the Education Ministry, the Qudrat-e-Khuda Education Commission was formed in 1972 with leading educationist and scientist Dr Qudrat-e-Khuda at its head. The commission submitted its report to the government in May 1974.
They said the Qudrat-e-Khuda Commission report reflected the fundamentals of the newly framed constitution of Bangladesh. But, due to some unavoidable circumstances, the implementation of the recommendations of the report was delayed.
The policy recommends giving proper dignity and the status of the teachers in the national ''Warrant of Precedence''.
Their salary scales will be upgraded properly.
Initiatives will be taken for eligible teachers and education officers in proving promotion at different levels of education administration and management.
The policy prescribes granting promotion to non-government teachers based on seniority and proficiency by canceling the existing proportional system.
For secondary education, the committee suggested the secondary level will be from class IX to XII while the secondary examination will be held on completion of class XII.
Bengali, English, Mathematics, ICT and Bangladesh Studies subjects will be uniformly followed in the curricula and syllabi of the secondary-level education-- general, madrassa and technical.
Final examinations will be held after completing the class x at upazial, municipal and thana levels with uniform questions while the scholarship will be distributed based on the results.
In higher education, the 3-year degree course will ultimately be upgraded to 4-year honours course at the respective educational institutions.
The 4-year hononurs courses will be treated as the terminal degree, and after completing the higher studies a student can enter any professions, excepting teaching.
Master''s degree will be required for the teaching profession.
Non-government Teachers Commission will be formed for selecting teachers and providing training to the non-government teachers.
In order to decentralize the National University, six divisional centres will be set up at the divisional level and the centres will be gradually upgraded to affiliating universities in the respective areas.
Madrasa education goes through changes in its curriculum.
In consistency with other systems of education,
Bengali, English, Mathematics, moral studies, social environment and climate change subjects, ICT and sciences, and Bangladesh Studies will be compulsory in the existing Ibtedai-level curriculum.
Initiatives for formulating an inclusive education law and a permanent education commission will be taken.

http://www.newstoday-bd.com