To keep pace with the fast growing demand of English knowing people establishing English version school along with English medium has gained momentum in the country. So far about fifty two English version schools have been established in Dhaka, several towns and five outside the country which are run by Bangladeshi missions. How the students of this version doing, what is the overall performance of the teachers, is there any arrangement for training of the teachers teaching in this version, how are their management call for serious scrutiny.
As guardians have been inclined to giving their children better knowledge in English, People working with education sector have started opening English version schools in the city and even in some district towns. But it does not have specially developed books and curriculum. Just the translated books of Bengali medium have been used which are full of mistakes and translation is also not up to the mark in some cases. Necessary base of this version stands on a weak footing and it lacks a well thought out plan. Still it draws huge number of students but qualified teachers are not available. Some institutions of the city are fully English version based whereas some are running both English version and Bengali medium. Teachers teaching in this version don't have English background; neither are they from English medium which contributes to poor performance in the class disseminations and making strong base of English of the students. These teachers are not experienced as well to make quality question papers and deal with the whole affair very efficiently. Many students said that their teachers just give them 'work sheet' and teachers ask them to memorize them to pass the examination without making the class interesting, interactive and fruitful. As a result students are losing their interest to learn anything studying the books of English version. Teachers don't have any training and there is no such arrangement to give them training how to deal with new books and making them interesting and interactive. These anomalies make guardians frustrated.
Authorities seem to indifferent to this medium as the number of students from English version is not recorded systematically even the number of students sit for SSC examination is also not counted regularly. The list of educational institutions remains stored in DSHE but it does not enlist the English version schools separately. Opening English version schools is approved by the boards and distribution of books is done by District Education officers. But they don't prepare separate list for English version students. Due to the lack of well planned and systemic dealing procedure, much wastage is also incurred in this sector.
Students complain that they are taught using Bengali and English and most of the time 'work sheet' is provided. Teachers just tell student to memorize the sheet to pass the examination. Many students and guardians seriously complained that just like Bengali medium teachers, English version students are also compelled to receive private coaching from the teachers. If they students fail to comply, they are to pay for it in various ways. The sheets provided by the teachers contain many mistakes. Teachers hardly bother about the mistakes of the sheets and when corrected by educated guardians, they don't give importance to it.
Program Manager, BRAC Education Program
