SSC Examination of Tiny Examinees

SSC Examination of Tiny Examinees
This is for the first time the country has witnessed the public examination of primary school students of class five inviting appreciations and little criticisms for the authorities concerned. 88.84 percent students passed in the examination. 6 lakh, 76thousand 717 students obtained first division, 6 lakh 15thousand 350 in the second division and 3lakh 27thousand in the third division. From 81 thousand 3hundred 72 schools, 18 lakh 23 thousand 4 hundred 65 students participated in this nationwide SSC examination for our tiny examinees. It is encouraging to see that the number of first division holders outnumbers the second and third division holders. Barisal division saw the highest pass percent 92.94 percent and the lowest in Sylhet division 78.25. The examination was held on November 21,22 and 24 in six divisions. The final results have been published after 28 days. Primary Training Institutes attached primary schools saw the highest pass percentage 99.21, other government primary schools 89.49, Model government primary schools 95.31 percent, Registered non-government primary schools 82.50 percent , Community Primary school 77.44 percent, BRAC Primary school 96.39, Children Welfare schools 62.39 percent, Ananda school 43.65 and others 90.59 percent. This figure says that out of eight streams of primary education the government primary schools stand four in the position.
Out of these graduates 50 thousand will get talent-pool and general scholarship which is undoubtedly an innovative idea to increase the quality of education. Before this system there was no arrangement to learn the merit of primary school nationwide and uniformly. Only the students ( barely 40 percent) who participated in the scholarship examination were considered as the brighter students and the whole school and teachers focused their attention on them only. The rest 60 percent remained neglected. Now all will get almost equal emphasis in the class. Teachers’ responsibility has also been brought under stocktaking.
If we further go into the result we see that 42 percent secured first division. Eight percent student did not take part in the exam ions. More than 11 percent students failed. 19 percent dropped out. The exams should go a long way to bring uniformity in the system of primary education thereby to improve the much lamented poor standard of education at this level. The decision to take this terminal examination nationwide was taken only three months back. The guardians and tiny students could not get enough time to prepare for the examination. They were in tension also. Even then, the result has become good enough comparing and considering the limitations behind it. Again, the examines had to sit for two subjects a day which was a pressure for them. Next time the authorities concerned must give reasonable look at these affairs.
One lakh 56 thousand 430 students did not take part in the examination though they registered. As they don’t have certificate they will not be able to get admission in class six. The poor and less conscious guardians will not be able to defray their educational expenses for another one year. Finally they may stop giving education to their children. The government must think a second option for them so that they may not drop out from the list.
What is more encouraging and meaningful is that mofassail and village primary schools have done much better than urban and metropolitan ones. The first, second and third positions in the combined merit list have been occupied by village student, not urban. Obtaining 593 marks out of 600 Sadia secured the first position from Monohordi Model school . Bravo!Sadia. The top ten schools nine are from villages and one in Dhaka. Keep it up my dear village students. You have proved that the society makes you deprived of facilities you need and deserve but you have proved that you can. Among the top ten positions 7 have been occupied by girls and 3 boys. My dear little daughters go on. It gives us the clear hints that thousands of flowers are lying in rural areas who need to be bloomed for the greatest interest of the nation .
The chronic weakness in Mathematics and English has been proved once again in this public examination. No student passed from 1 thousand 937 schools. Two laksh students failed and they failed mainly in English and Mathematics though 10 to 13 grace marks were given to boost the pass percentage.
At present in each primary school there are only three to four teachers. In most schools in one shift four hours schooling goes on. It will be removed under the PEDP-Phase ii by 2010. The education specialists say that there must be five teachers in each school and at least five classrooms. They also say that there must be arrangement for food for the children in the schools. Many children come to school empty stomach. They need food during the noon. If it is done, they will have a special attraction for school and indirectly quality education will be ensured and the drop out rate will get narrow. The donors and the people concerned have already showed interest and talked about this matter. Now the main role is to be played by the government.
To conduct such a massive examination is definitely a tremendous job on the part of the government. So, it deserves thanks and appreciation from all of us. To conduct an examination of about twenty lakes students countrywide and publishing the results on time really deserves thanks. It also proves that we can do many things if we apply our sincere desire and efforts.
Now time is ripe enough to review the whole situation and take necessary steps to make our primary education base quite strong. Experience sharing can happen between the best performing schools and the poor performing ones. About two lakh student did not pass. About one lakh and fifty thousand students dropped out. They must be taken to the mainstream education by identifying their weakness. We have been learning that our education system contains loopholes but we did not have reliable picture to prove it. But this result has proved it. Now it will tell us what remedies we need to take.

Md. Masum Billah
Programme Manager: BRAC Education Programme, PACE
Cell: 01714-091431
Email: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com