Editorial
Primary school terminal exam results
Strengths and weaknesses of education at that level revealed
THE results of Primary Education Terminal Examination published yesterday show that out of more than 16 lakh candidates, nearly 89 per cent have come out successful. Of this pass figure significantly 42 per cent secured first division. Department of Primary Education deserves thanks for successfully conducting such a massive examination for the first time in the country.
The exams should go a long a way in bringing uniformity in the system of primary education thereby helping to improve the much lamented poor standard of education at this level. Primary education is known to be in a shambles, with poor infrastructure and acute shortage of good teachers, particularly in rural areas. But rural schools have done well despite their limitations which is perhaps an eye opener to the fact that students here are not reliant on private coaching as much as they are in urban centres. That may be indicative of good classroom instructions in semi-urban and rural areas. This aspect is symbolised by none other than Sadia who came first in the country from Narsingdi town. With a better management of schools yet brighter results can be achieved over all.
With the holding of the exams, primary education should emerge as an important segment of a learner's life. It will assume much greater importance as pursuing further education will depend on passing the new exams. The exams will help decision makers to assess more accurately the performance of the sector and its strengths and weaknesses to accord it the recognition and support that it needs. Primary education will no longer be treated as unwieldy and unstructured that it used to be which many pupils could skip in the past.
The poor beginning often leaves students with irreversible weaknesses which affect their entire academic life. So, we believe the education department is laying emphasis on the right area. But they also have to take into consideration the sad truth that no student passed from 1,937 schools.
With the girls getting seven out of top ten places, it is obvious that their potential to develop brilliant academic careers is very high. We congratulate the top achievers and all those who came out successful including their teachers and parents.
What we should strive to attain is a level-playing field, where merit, and merit alone, will be tested through exams.
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