Memories of working with Primary Education

Memoirs of Working for Primary

 Education at five Upazila*

Mohammad Shahidullah

AUEO, Moheshkhali, Coxswbazar

Dated: 28/04/2015

Primary Education is the constitutional right of a child in Bangladesh. The government is committed to implement the pledges and agreement signed with the International organizations for ensuring the education for all. UNO, UNESCO, UNICEF and other world organizations and donors closely monitor the education and health related developmental programs of both developed and developing countries throughout the world. However, Bangladesh is one of those countries, who run a vast Primary education department in the world. Quality primary education is the crying needs of the time throughout the world. Bangldesh government started to work for making the nation literate and educated just after independence, it achieved in 1971.The father of the nation Bangabandu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman made all the Primary schools(about 38,000) nationalized in a historic declaration on 01/07/10973. Since then, Bangladesh Primary Education Scenario has been being rapidly changed  and has been entering into the age of Quality Primary Education with giving signals of success worldwide. Here in this article, I would like to write about my working memories of five working stations, including Moheshkhali.

1.Primary Education Scenario of Derai Upazila: Derai Upazila is situated at Sunamgomj district of Sylhet Division. It is an area of Haor, which undergoes water for about 8 months in each  year. Since the midst of March to October, the Upazila remains in such conditions. The remaining 4 months is the dry season of the area.  There is no vehicle except Shallow Engine Boat to move around Primary Schools throughout the Upazila. As the whole area is almost Haor-Centered, people live on the banks of the Haor and the schools also have been built up on the banks. Most of the people of the Upazila are poor fishermen and they live on fishing and agriculture. During dry season, there is no alternative, but walking. One has to move, one place to another on foot then, almost everywhere at the Upazila. Aristocrats and rich men of the upazila stay in London, Dhaka, Sylhet City and Chittagong. The famous and veteran parliamentarian Mr. Suranjit Sen Gupta is the Long-term MP of Derai-Sulla Constituency. He is one of the prominent national leader of our country, who has been actively contributing in law making at our National Assembly. However, I am writing here about the Primary Education Scenario of the Derai Upazila, when I had worked there as an AUEO since 22/06/2000 to 28/10/1003. There are about 150 primary schools and around 600 teachers working at the upazila. In most of the schools have only 3 to 4 teachers working there. The number of students almost at each and every primary school are around 40 to 100. Very few schools have more than 100 students at the primary schools of that upazila. The quality of primary education is very poor there. The quality of teachers also is not up-to-the-mark. In fact, it is quite difficult to maintain a minimum standarity and quality of Primary Education activities there, as this is a remote and hard to reach area. Most of the schools run only two to three hours daily. Teachers and students of the Primary schools of the upazila reach at schools at around 10.030 and the teaching-learning activities go on till 1.30 to 2.00; as they all have to come to schools by boat from surrounding localities. Only a few schools are regular and are led as usual, maintaining rules and regulations, those are near about upazila administration. After then, almost every school declares closed. The teachers who are not good and criminal-minded, I had tried to take stern action against them, but failed to do that, not having support from the higher authority. Here I can recall about a teacher named Jahanar Begum, who signed advanced in the attendance register remaining absence for 5 days. I sued him for this type of her crime, but she was given mercy by the then authority of the Upazila. Like the case many other teachers were accused of and got relaxed that way. That is why, quality of education there also so. Actually, the scenario of Hoar areas of the country is almost alike. I had worked there for about 4 years. As a new officer, I tried with utmost sincerity and dedication to discharge my duties and responsibilities in implementing government primary education programs. I traveled widely and inspected the primary schools of my Clusters widely and tried to correct the teachers and teaching-learning activities. But I was not satisfied at my services, as I couldn’t take the schools and teachers to the destination of having quality primary education. The authorities, Local administration, People Representatives and other social elite should give due importance to the primary schools and quality primary education of this upazila. My personal memories of working and staying there were also very painful, as I was there with family I had to pass my days through quite hardship. While I had been serving at that upazila I had a daughter. My salary was very small amount and it was very difficult for me to maintain my family life. As the upazila is far away from my native upazila Alikadam/Chakaria (which is about 500 kilometers), I couldn’t get any support from my parents family. I got involved in loan and I had to suffer a lot later also for it to recover me from the situation. I took an amount of money from my sister-in-law Bhuttu, in lieu of giving a piece of land as mortgage to her and finally I had to lose it to her. It pains me still now. Two of my higher authority/officers are also involved/accused for it. They made me compelled to lose the land. The present situation of Primary education of Derai still the same almost.

2.Primary Education Scenario of Rangunia Upazila: My experience of working in the primary education department of Rangunia upazila is comparatively good enough and sweet. I worked there for about 4 years ( October,2003 to Agust, 2007). There are about 12000 hundred teachers have been working at the upazila and about 50,000 thousand students have been studying at the primary schools there. Amng the working teachers at the primary school teachers of the upazila are the best quality. They can do and face anything about primary education activities, both academic and non-academic. They would teach even in the High School and College levels, also. A number of teachers are academically highly qualified and competent enough. They are by and large, professionally committed. Some of the primary school teachers of Rangunia so competent that they can be comapared to any teacher of the any part of the country. As a professional government education officer and Academic Superviser, my competencies were developed there while I was working at that upazila. I recognize that Rangunia Primary Education Department played a pivotal role in making me enriched. As and AUEO, my foundation was built up there. I remember, Rangunia with honour and respect. During my working period, I had tried to discharge my duties and responsibilities properly. I ghad studied a lot on various issues, including my service related matters and departmental rules and regulations. I also admit the contribution of that time, the UEO Rabiul Hossain, who helped me to be a Competent Officer. During my working time there as an AUEO, I had passed my time well for about 4 years.  

3.Rajasthali Primary Education Scenario: Rajasthali is in the hill district Rangamati nearby Kaptai Upazila. At that upazila I had spent for long five and a half years. I had joined there as an AUEO on 05/08/20107 last and had worked till 12/02/2013. On 03/06/2008, I took the charge of UEO and continued to the last date on 12/02/2015.  I tried my best to prove me as a competent and good officer, working hard for implementing primary education programmes of the Bangladesh government. I moved throughout the upazila widely and inspected each and every primary school. There are about 45 primary schools and about 200 hundred teachers working there at the Rajasthali upazila. At that upazila I had worked independently as well as strongly. I had to face many problems, but came out of them smoothly. There, I also helped the Secondary and Higher Secondary level education sector, particularly conducting SSC and HSC examinations. There was no Secondary level Upazila Education officer working at that upazila. As a result, I had to do the Examination centre duties of that level, being Officer-in-Charge of the examination centres. Personally, I felt very much lonely there and the surrounding environment for me were not favourable. As there live tribal people, as Muslim I could not move freely. At first to pass my loneliness I chose to teach the students of secondary and higher secondary levels and contued it for almost 4 years. Later, for my business of office works I gave up teaching students. There I had read a lot books on various subjects, including religious subjects. As once I was a journalist, I had the habit of writing and translating various serious matters. I could recovered it there. After joining my present job, I almost forgot to write, but very few. However, I am writing here about my experience of working with the primary education of Rajasthali. As an Officer for working at that upazila  primary education my feelings is not satisfactory, because there I experienced adverse atmosphere of my duties and  responsibilities. Since the geographical position of the area is hilly, I had to work with the risk of visible and invisible elements are very active. Most of the schools have three or four teachers and the quality of teaching and learning were not up-to the mark. As most of the teachers are tribal and their educational qualification is below degree level, they are not competent enough as teachers. They can speak Bengali well and speak in their own dialectics, they can’t. Students of that upazila also same. Howevr, the authority should give more emphasis on the over all development of hill area primary education to achieve the goals of quality education.

4.Chakaria Upazila Primary Education Scenario: Chakaria is a large Upazila of Coxsbazar district. The Primary Education activities of that Upazila is also vast. There are  130 primary schools and about 1000 thousand teachers have been working there.  I worked at that upazila for a short period of time. There are enough number of teachers almost at every school of Chakaria and the quality teaching-learning is also up-to the mark. Most of the teachers are academically highly qualified and professionally committed as well as competent enough. If they become, a bit of more sincere and dedicated, they could do a lot for quality primary education. There are no lack of structure, Class rooms and furniture also. Though I had worked for short span of time, I tried hard to work with all related with primary education there. As it is my native upazila, my utmost sincerity I engaged there. For my personal view of point, I was good enough there as I could stay with my family. But on 07/11/2013 I became thundered with bolt when I heard that I was transferred toi Moheshkhali with charge of UEO. I was almost insisted to joined my Present working station by the higher authority as the time of PSC examination very near, i.e from 20/11/2013.

5.Moheshkhali Upazila Primary Education Scenario:Moheshkhali is an Island with diversified characteristics in the country. Sometimes, peoples, who know the landscape or the nature of the Island they say that it’s not an Island, perhaps once there was a devastating earthquake by which the land was separated from the main land of the cox`sbazar. At present, Moheshkakhali is a place which is not an isolated from the other parts of the country, rather it is going to be well-communicated one, with Chakaria-Cox`sbazaras, especially peoples from the northern part of Moheshkhali can easily move to Chittagong and Cox`sbazar as well as throughout of Bangladesh. We all know that a mega-Project named `Matarbari Super Ultra Critical Coal-Firing Power Project’ and another mega project of establishing `Sunadi Deep Sea-Port’ are going to be started working soon. If the said two projects would be implemented, then the Island Moheshkhali would turn into a beautiful Island city like Singapore. Recently, Chaillatolly to Moheshkhali Sadar and Kalarmarchara to Ghurakghata roads, have been being repaired and developed. After the completion of both the roads` construction and repairmen, the internal communication of Moheshkhali would turn into nice and smooth. However, I am writing about the progress and set-backs of Primary Education Scenario of the upazila, today.

Prevailing Situation of Primary Education: There are about 72 government led Primary schools and 470 teachers have been working here at this upazila, now. The number of students has been studying is about 55,000 thousands both in government led and NGO led primary schools. The primary education activities encircling the students, ages from 5 to 14 years are quite a mammoth task. We, who are involved with the implementation process of government agenda; `Education for All’ and ensuring quality education for every student, have been working hard to achieve the targeted millennium development goals. The government has been running a special program that is mid-day meals/school-feeding, giving biscuits for each and every student at this upazila. 90% of the students studying here at the primary schools, use to get stipends. Moreover, there are about 300 Ananda Schools, led by ROSC Project (phase-11) for the drop-out students, ages around 8 to 14 years. I feel that we all need more attention and sincerity of discharging our duties and responsibilities, who have been working in the Primary education sector of Moheshkhali.

Present Problems Primary Education: There are lots of problems here at Moheshkhali, in implementing primary level education programs properly. They are like; infrastructural, class-rooms, furniture, teachers, lack of mass awareness and guardians etc. We can mention the problems in this way;

1. Lack of enough Building structure and furniture, at most of the schools.
2. Lack of teachers, posts and working teachers` and the ratio of teachers-students is far between them.
3. Lack of guardians` awareness about the importance of education.
4. Lack of teachers` professional commitment and also not being competent enough as well as not motivated well.
5. There have not been established enough schools, according to the needs of the peoples living here. There are about more than three lakhs of people at Moheshkhali, but the number of schools is 72 till today and there should be at least around 100/120 schools.
6. There are not enough schools at remote areas like; Dhalghata, Matarbari, Shaplapur, Sunadia and Kalarmarchara. That`s why there is an unjustified large number of students at studying schools, what is almost impossible with the limited number of teachers working there.
7. The local elites and peoples representatives didn’t pay due heed to establishing more schools.
8. Higher Authorities are not sincere enough to give sufficient attention to this back warded Moheshkhali upazila primary education sector.

Remedies of primary education problems: I would like to propose some suggestions and make a plan here for the over all development and improvement of primary education, involving all stakeholders related to, at Moheshkhali.

1. First of all, every one of teachers, officers, local authorities, SMC, PTA, Political Leaders, Peoples Representatives and higher authorities must have a commitment for education for all  that there would be found no children out of school at Moheshkhali.  
2. Guardians must be made aware of the importance of literacy and education.
3. Sufficient building structure and furniture must be built and provided to the schools as early as possible. Besides, School buildings like Jagiraghuna, Barmeese, Bara Moheshkali should be prioritized in the reconstruction and new building list.
4. Teachers, working at the schools must be sincere and active enough. They must have to reach the school just at 9.00 am and should not leave it before 4.30 pm. The head teacher of each Primary School must have to be a good leader of his school, a good manager also. He should have a good command over all activities of his school and must have to prove himself that he is capable of exercising any administrative action against every ill practice done by the related persons. He should start up, making a SMART Plan for his school right now, so that he could begin working well from the very first day of the coming year, 2015.
5. Each and every teacher should have to work at school, according to their professional and subject training as well as with subject knowledge. They have to make rich themselves everyday; learning new concepts, techniques of teaching-learning, technological know-how, conducting multi-media driven classes, keeping information up-to-date and as a whole of primary education curriculum. They should prove themselves that they all are good teachers, professionally committed, honest, sincere, hard-working, nation-builders and patriots.
6. SMC/PTA/Guardians, Students and teachers; must build up an intensive relationship among themselves and have to be committed for ensuring every student’s presence at school and quality learning or quality education.
7. All the people of Moheshkhali have to be ambitious of being literate and educated.

I had worked here at Moheshkhali Upazila as an Upazila Education Officer (In-charge) till 28th September, 2014 from last 10^th November. I have been working as an Assistant Upazila Education Officer of Primary Education level now. During my period, I discussed about the above problems with the local MP, Upazila Chairman, UNO and other leaders and elites of the Upazila. They every one knows the problems of Primary Education sector and they are sincere enough to solve them. We can hope that the prevailing problems might be meeting up, gradually. The need of the moment right now is utmost sincerity of us, who are working for primary education and doing our duties and responsibilities, properly. Once we could see each school works and speaks with great success throughout the country.

Conclusion:This article is based on my memories of Upazila Level Primary Education activities, while I had worked and have been working at present working station. It is not a research paper, recalling the snapshots of last fifteen years. I have been just writing down the scenario of primary education what I did and doing now. In future, I would like to elaborate the above thinking of mine.

*I have been working at Derai, Rangunia, Rajasthali, Chakaria and Moheshkhali upazila primary education for about 15 years.