http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/12/01/d41201070254.htm
Daily Star, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Wednesday, December 1, 2004
Exodus for education to India
At least 10,000 Banglade**** students study in Darjeeling schools
alone: Guardians blame poor academic atmosphere at home
By Rafique Sarker back from Burimari, (Lalmonirhat)
Rangpur: The trend of Bangla-de****s sending their children to West
Bengal's Darjiling district for education is increasing alarmingly.
Even primary school students below ten are sent, who stay at
dormitories there.
This is because of lack of proper academic atmosphere on campuses due
to political instability, law and order situation, higher expenses and
absence of international recognition of English medium schools in
Bangladesh, many of the guardians said while talking to this
correspondent.
At least 10,000 Banglade**** children are studying at about 200 English
medium schools in Darjiling, ****liguri and Kurseong, according to
conservative estimates made by the students and other sources.
On an average, every student spends about Tk one lakh a year for
education in India, thereby draining out huge amounts of foreign
currency.
Every year, about 1000 Bangla-de**** children are enrolled with these
English medium schools in Darjiling.
Most of the Bangladesh students have returned home on three month's
vacation, which began there on November 27.
During a visit to Burimari land ****t in Lalmonirhat on Sunday, this
correspondent saw several hundred Banglade**** guardians returning from
Darjiling with their children.
Talking to this correspondent, most of them said they send their
children to Darjeeling out of frustration at the performance of
English medium schools in Bangladesh.
Mamunur Ra****d, a student of class three at Himali Boarding School and
College at Kurseong, said he felt lonely when he had gone there to
stay at the dormitory. "Now I feel better".
Retired Air Force officer Mokhlesur Rahman was returning home with his
daughter Oishee, a student of class six at Bethany School in Kuseong.
"It is hard for parents to leave their children at hostels in a
foreign country for education. But I did so for better education of my
daughter."
He cited a number of reasons. The standard of education in most of the
English medium schools in the country is not up to the mark. A very
few schools can provide good education but their seats are very
limited, he said.
Nanthu, a businessman in Rangpur, whose son is a student of an English
medium school in ****liguri, said, "I wanted my son to be well educated
at an English medium school in Bangladesh. But none of the English
medium schools in Dhaka or any other city has residential facility.
"So I sent my son to ****liguri".
A high official working in Dhaka seeking anonymity said he sent his
son to a school in Darjiling due to political instability and lack of
social security in Bangladesh.
"Are parents in Bangladesh tensions-free after sending their children
to school?" he asked.
"Why should we send out children abroad for study if we get good
atmosphere at home?" businessman Abdus Sahed Montu of Rangpur town
replied when asked. His son studies at ****liguri Modern English
School.
"It is possible to establish good English medium schools in
Bangladesh, but who will take the initiative?" he said.
An official of Water Development Board (WDB) at Bogra seeking
anonymity said, " Education expense in Bangladesh is almost double the
amount in India. We would have been happier if we could spend the
money for education of our children at home".
Moreover, there is no uniform curriculum for English medium schools in
Bangladesh. On the other hand, all English medium schools in India
follow the same curriculum prescribed by Delhi Board, he claimed.
But expectations of all Bangla-de**** guardians are not fulfilled. Not
all the students are doing good in Indian schools.
Shahariar, a student of class ten at a school in Kuseong, said many of
the Banglade**** classmates have been derailed.
"They take wine with Nepalese students on different occasions".
"Few Banglade**** students do good results in all Board examinations.
"The only subject we learn better is English, but that is not all".
He suggested that Bangladesh government should give more emphasis on
English at primary, secondary and higher secondary levels because this
is an age of internet and English is the only language for
communication outside.
Aminur Rahid, a guardian from Dhaka, sup****ted Shahariar's
observations.
There should be more private sector investment in education sector,
particularly at primary and secondary levels, which will suite the
need of the time, he said.
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