Primary Education in the Bangladesh Hill tracrs

Primary Education

In the Hill Tracts

Shahid Bin Fazal

Primary Education in the Chittagong Hill Area; is still a far cry, in the perspective of quality. So, it needs special attention to this area, for over all development and ensuring a standard level of education. The government, so far as we know have been thinking seriously and already been taken decision about it. A mega- project named Primary Education Development Program (PEDP-11); was started in the year last2003 and is targeted to be complemented by June; 2011.The government has already taken decision to continue the program, renaming it as PEDP-111. PEDP-11; had taken a number of steps to make the primary education; some extend of expected quality. They have achieved success in some programs; including incensement of enrolment of children and infrastructural development. Almost all the government primary school of the country, except Hill Area, have gotten much more teachers and class rooms during last few years. Now it is the turn of hill districts` schools. We will focus on present conditions, problems, requirements and some realistic suggestions in this article.

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Present Conditions of Primary Education in the Hill Area:

We all know that Chittagong Hill tracts area primary education department has been being run by Chittagong Hill District Council; namely; Rangamati, Khagrachari and Banderban. Most of the people of this region are indigenous or tribal. They are hard-core poor people, but prestigious. There are about 15 indigenous groups; like Chakma, Marma, Tonchoinga, Tripura, Khyang, Bome, Chak, Lusai, Mro etc. And about 50 groups in Bangladesh. Indigenous people, excluding Hill Area, have been living most of them in the plain land or like; such as Sylhet, Barisal, Mymensingh, Dinajpur, Khulna, Cox`sbazar and other areas of the country. Plain land indigenous groups can avail about same facilities as main stream people. But the conditions of primary education in the Hill Region are quite different and problematic.  Due to long unrest and internal lack of normalcy, it has fallen behind the scene .Each and every school of this area has been facing lots of problems and shortcomings .For this, targets and Millennium Goals have become a far cry. There are lack of buildings rooms, teachers, quality teachers, furniture, congenial and healthy environment, quality education and so.

Problems:

We can identify the problems in Hill tracts primary education sector as following;

(1)Lack of enough buildings, rooms and furniture.

(2)Lack of enough teachers and quality teachers.

(3) Lack of supervising officers; like UEO, AUEO, and URC Instructors and so on.

(4) Teachers and qualified, quality, competent and ideal teachers.

(5) Lack of own language teachers.

(6)Lack of number of posts of teachers.

(7)Local level and Hill perspective planning.

(8) Lack of students security.

(9) Lack of awareness of education.

(10)Hard-core poverty.

(11)Geographical obstacles.

(12)Migration of parents.

(13)Poor conditions of health and sanitation.

(14)Occupations of non-educational qualifications.

(15)Tendencies of remaining aloof from the standard livings.

(16)Inadequate facilities of running trade, commerce, business, job oriented profession etc.

(17)Keeping and remaining tendency of isolation.

(18)Not to be ambitious of high thinking and high living; both in home and abroad.

(19)Lack of proper attentions of previous authority and government.

(20)Internal conflicts and insurgent like situation.

(21)Lack of land and homeland ownership.

(22)Policy maker’s limitations.

(23)Lack of own language text books and teachers.

(24)Lack of means of communication, like; transport, boats etc. timely and available.

(25) And lots of other seen and unseen hindrances.

Requirements and Priorities:

(1)   Incensement of number of schools.

(2)   Posts and number of teachers should be created, approved and appointment.

(3)   Number of school buildings and rooms as soon as possible, be constructed, increased and repaired.

(4)   Posts and number officers are to be created, approved and appointed.

(5)   Proper, inclusive and intensive attention of authority and government for the spread and development of primary education.

(6)   Water, sanitation and health -care facilities must be made available.

(7)   Text books should be written and distributed according to the needs of the indigenous children.

(8)   Teachers of own language or mother-tongue should be appointed and posted.

(9)   Learning centers and schools should be made available to each and every tribal child.

(10)All tribal groups have to be made aware of and provide enough facilities for primary education and after.

Suggestions:

(1)Special programs and plans for the indigenous peoples` education, especially basic education should be taken.

(2)CHTD (Chittagong Hill District Council) should be made more active and serious about the sector.

(3) Offices of CHTD at upazila and union level should be set up.

(4)All the government and non-government organizations (NGO) should have a well managing and coordinating authority.

(5)High level and policy level persons should give due priorities to the education of the children of the Hill Area.

(6) Participation and representation of own-group people (indigenous) have to be increased and ensured.

  Conclusion:

In this topic, titled` Primary Education in Hill tracts; we have given a birds` eye view, on the present conditions, problems, requirements and suggestions for the better  primary education in the Chittagong Hill tracts. We think, the related authorities, the government and the donor agencies would give necessary and proper attention to the sector of this area and would continue the prevailing programs and attempts .Present, on going plans and programs are not enough and according to the indigenous children’s needs. So, more seriousness and available fund-facilities are required to be allocate and disbursed.