I wouldn't say untalented. The journey of school starts with meritorious and less meritorious students. The work that man begins after birth to create a better structure of life is to acquire Knowledge. Basically the acquiring of knowledge starts from the family.
However, the number of literate people among the family members and the opportunity to pass on letters to their descendants is basically the practice of teaching or imparting knowledge. The first level of education is the family and the next is the schools or primary schools.
In the context of Bangladesh, in the post-independence period, primary schools have been established consistently in almost every village. About 68,000 villages during the former President late Hossain Muhammad Ershad tenure and even about 85,000 villages at the present time were built on the same formula.
During the tenure of the former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, around 1994, Non-Registered Primary Schools were established and universal form of education was given. But, sadly, its proper effective implementation is questionable to me. Because, the qualities of learning process for the students has not improved.
Schools are built for the education and knowledge of students. There are basically three things involved in education. For example: parents, students and teachers. By combining these three we can get an ideal student.
Why students drop out of school or why students run away from school is the main topic of my essay. Students start taking classes from primary school. And at some point it starts to fall off. There can be many reasons for dropping out of them. But due to inability to read and write and the problems caused by it, the dropout rate of students increases.
Bengali and English are taught as languages in our country. In Bengali, there are 11 vowels and 39 consonants. In total 50 characters of letters. On the other hand English letters are 26 including 05 as vowels. Both languages are taught to form words and sentences through these letters, or are taught to produce textbook readings.
There are total 06 classes including pre-primary classes in the Primary Schools. In the pre-primary class is supposed to impart the letters and the familiar words to children in a fun environment. Of course it is being observed. In the Primary Schools, literacy is limited to the students of class One to Five. What we call 'reading' is so insignificant among the students of these five classes that it would depress the nation.
In the course of time it appears that the students are unable to read and write. Neither reading prescribed books nor any other subjects. This complex condition of not being able to read or write is concentrated and takes a dire form by the end of the fifth grade.
When asked about this from the parents, their statement is as follows:-
a) Insincerity of teachers;
b) Lack of professionalism in class activities;
c) Improper implementation of training;
d) Headmasters’ appeasing to the officials.
(I have, however, tried to present the sloppy, untidy words of the guardians in moderation.)
Analyzing the parents' words, it can be seen:
The government appoints the primary school teachers in their local area, their villages as well. The aim is to give enough time to the students. But, its result is opposite. Research shows that they give more importance to family than students. For this, several familiar images have been seen through various social media and newspapers.
Trained teachers are a brilliant, dynamic learning-soldier. It is doubtful whether the training can actually be absorbed by the students. They exonerate cent percent themselves by blaming students and parents. If the principle of training cannot be given to the students, structural application, that is, if the training is not suitable for the students, then what is the use of spending crores of takas for the trainings! The teacher is benefiting personally. What did the students and the nation get? Unable to motivate students, they become fearful, neglectful of lessons and sometimes skip class works.
Head of the institution are busy maintaining liaison with administrators in office work, leaving teachers with a lack of classroom supervision. However, the students who are not able to read and write properly, they are being promoted. They are not detained by the authority. Merit is not judged here. Whether you learn to read or not, whether you write in the answer scripts or not, promotion should be given.
Talking to many primary school teachers, Headmasters and several education officials revealed that there is a government directive not to detain students in primary schools. Needless to say, this can't be held back, i.e. "all pass" policy becomes anathema when it comes to secondary level. The prescribed books of primary and secondary schools are not the same; the value is not the same. Considering the primary school age, the time and opportunity for talent development is not sufficiently implemented.
Both Bengali and English are taught as languages in schools. Although Bengali is studied as a mother tongue, it is unfortunate that about 30% of students in class five do not know how to read and write Bengali. Here the responsible problems should be identified and the skill of writing and reading both Bengali and English subjects should be acquired. Primary school students mainly drop out due to inability to read. If the students cannot read by themselves, they cannot present their reading skills to the classes. As a result, they are afraid of inferiority and inability. They lose interest in reading or even studying.
Since, they cannot read, they become impossible to pass the exam. To take part in the exam become a nightmare. At one point, the students quote the name of the student who had dropped out.
The government has made Primary education compulsory. 20-25% of Primary students drop out by the fifth grade. Of course, it is the situations for the low-income area. In the context of Bangladesh, the number of students is considered proportional to the population of rural areas. Primary Schools have double the student to teacher ratio, in some cases triple or more. As a result, the desired educational program is greatly disrupted.
That's all about the teachers. Now let's see how teachers comment about parents characteristics.
According to teachers,
a) Inattention of students;
b) Irregular students;
c) Indifference;
d) Unawareness of the guardians;
(e) Disinclined attitude etc. are responsible.
The role of teachers is immense to make inattentive students attentive. And teachers are given expert level training in this subject. Students are bound to be regular if they are able to attract attention to the classes. Parental apathy is a disease. They think that the government is giving free books, teachers are teaching the students; we are providing children. Where will not be educated! It is another problem. There is also a divide among parents.
Here, in my view, three classes of guardians can be observed:
a) Unable to read or write: They cannot read themselves. Or, some recognize letters. Their children have to learn to read and write entirely with the help of others. They are very backward students in school. 15-20% of them drop out in the beginning due to not being able to read.
b) Literate: They themselves can read and write, but that is too little to teach their children. The dropout rate of their children is not low. They cannot devote extra time and supervision to their children's education.
The literate guardians who are service holder do not get minimum time to support their children. They cannot devote extra time and supervision to their children's education also.
Regardless of how we comment, we all have the same goal and objective, to prevent students’ dropouts. We have to go according to plan. In this case the use of schedule can be a good way.
In the current curriculum, the weekend is two days. Thus 52 x 2 = 104
days. A total of 177 days leave including 73 days due to other executive orders, religious, puja-parban etc. 365 -177 = 188 working days remain for study. 50 letters of Bengali alphabet and 26 letters of English alphabet cannot be taught in 186 days!
If letters are taught in the first year of Primary class, why can't the application of the alphabet -- literally 'reading' will be taught in the remaining four years? The number of five years is not less. 188 × 5 = 940 days are not sufficient for their learning purpose ?
Teacher-Parent-Student Triangular Learning Workshop; why the nation sheds tears for dropping out of the students! Billions of Takas in Training, Physical Infrastructure, the Teachers (the architects of nation), including Parents are plagued with the worries of the future generation! A New Year's tool should be a commitment by all concerned to work together to prevent attrition.
