DHAKA, Feb 26, 2020 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today stressed the need for not separating groups from class nine to give the students a chance of studying all of the subjects up to SSC level aimed at flourishing their talents.
“Group system divides the students from class nine. I think there is no need to have this group separation” she said while distributing Prime Minister Gold Medal-2018 at Shapla Hall of the Prime Minister’s Office here.
The medal was awarded to 172 students from 36 public and private universities as they secured the highest CGPA and marks in their faculties.
Bangladesh University Grants Commission (BUGC) arranged the ceremony for the sixth time today.
The premier said that all should get the chance of studying all the subjects as their talents could be unleashed.
Referring to some countries including the USA, she said that there are no group separations in many countries.
Noting that Pakistani ruler Ayub Khan had initiated the group separation from class nine in 1963, she said, “I think it (continuation of the group separation from class nine) is not good.”
The Prime Minister said her government has been working to build a modern education based society as the students could cope up with the ever-changing trend of education.
“We have to move maintaining the pace of the era as the world is progressing fast. We have to build a modern knowledge based society (For the reason), we have to be educated on science and technology” she added.
The premier also said that her government has been working for ensuring standard education for all.
She asked all concerned particularly the teachers of different
universities to find out the requirement for ensuring the standard of education.
In this context, she said, “We will do everything necessary for ensuring standard of education.”
The premier said that once upon a time students were not interested to study the science related subjects but now all those linked up with science.
Talking about the fourth industrial revolution, the Prime Minister said that technology based industries are growing and that will be flourished further.
“We will be more succeeding, if we can build up our people with proper education and skill. Then there will be no problem for us at all rather can help other countries also, we want to work like that way,” she continued.
The premier stressed the need for diversification of education which will pave the way of employment in abroad and advancing the country simultaneously.
Two of the awardees among the 88 females and 86 males, Md. Mobarack Hossain and Sharmin Sultana expressed thier gratitude to the Prime Minister for taking pragmatic measures for the overall development of education and,
also their feelings of getting the medal.
Education Minister Dr. Dipu Moni, Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hassan Chowdhury, PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus, Secretary of
Secondary and Higher Education Division Md. Mahbub Hossain and UGC member Dr Md Sazzad Hossain were present.
UGC Chairman Professor Dr. Kazi Shahidullah presided over the function.
In 2017, a total of 163 students were awarded Prime Minister Gold Medal for their outstanding academic results.
Sheikh Hasina emphasized on strengthening the monitoring and supervision of the UGC on the universities, saying, “We want the UGC will extensively supervise (the activities of) of every university of the country
She said that her government is taking steps to expand the areas of UGC through increasing its workforce and enhancing their capacities as they could strengthen the supervision.
In this context, the premier said, “We are taking steps to bring everything under a discipline, we have enacted the private university act, accountability of the academic and administrative activities of the private universities have been ensured, which was absent once upon a time.”
The Prime Minister also put emphasis on establishing specialized universities in different areas of the country.
Giving emphasis on research activities, she said that it is not possible to reach the peak of the development without research.
The premier said that there should be a uniform policy for all universities to appoint their teachers and employees.
“There should be seat limitation for a particular university to ensure standard of education” she added.
The premier said her government has been working to build a coordinated education system.
“We don’t want to neglect anyone. So, we have introduced honours course and information communication technology in the madrasha education, ” she added.
The premier said they have given recognition to dawara hadith equivalent to masters degree as part of the move to bring the madrasha education under a coordinated education system.”
Recalling the contribution of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in education sector , the Prime Minister said Bangabandhu formed Dr. Qudrat- e-Khuda education commission in 1972.
Describing massive development programs in education sector taken by her government, the Prime Minister said 2.3 crore students from primary to higher level are being given scholarships and stipends.
She said there are 150 public and private universities while 12 science and technology universities in the country now.
The premier said her government has given financial assistance from the Prime Minister Education Assistance Trust for the students of Phd and Mphil.
Besides she said computer labs and multimedia classrooms have been introduced in the country’s educational institutions.
Not only that she said that her government also made education multifaceted through setting up specialised universities like maritime university, textile university and university on fashion design.
She added, her government has been establishing aerospace university in Lalmonirhat district as her government wants to spread the education across the country.
Underscoring the need for research the Prime Minister said Bangladesh is now self sufficient in various fields including food production because of research.
The premier said her government has first allocated separate fund for conducting research.
Recalling the contribution of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in education sector the Prime Minister said Bangabandhu formed Dr. Qudrat- e-Khuda education commission in 1972.
She added ,her government has attached the highest priority on education for ensuring the country’s development following the footsteps if the Father of the Nation.
Noting that the perspective plan 2021+2041 have already been okayed as part of the move to make Bangladesh a developed and prosperous country by 2041, she said, “The award recipients are the soldiers of building the developed Bangladesh by 2041.”
The premier said that the nation is set to observe “Mujib Year” coinciding two events, the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation and the Golden Jubilee of independence, with a promise to make Bangladesh a developed and prosperous one.