Education sector

In spite of spending a huge amount every year both from revenue and development accounts (Annual Development Plan) quality of education failed to attain international standards. Similar was the case with health sector as of late, diseases like dengue, HIV-Aids have been occurring at an alarming rate and the less we discuss about government run hospitals, the better. This situation has been created owing to the failure to establish links between service providers and the clients.

On the other hand, weak monitoring and audit system has provided opportunities to plunder the scarce resources of the country. The government's system of awarding, scholarship to female secondary and higher secondary level students supported by payment of 90% of teacher's salaries and offering grant for development of infrastructure of educational institutions have led to establishment of more schools and madrassahs, and colleges at private level, only to extract funds from the government without caring about quality of education.

It was also learnt that ninety per cent of the newly established school, madrassah and college authorities resorted to withdrawing government funds by showing dummy teachers in collaboration with the officials of funding authorities. The governing body of those institutions have guardian's representative to comply with government rules but they have no role in assessing quality of education and teachers' involvement in daily routine classes. Most of the students are dependent on private coaching.

So there is no performance criteria for the teachers who do not have any accountability. Almost all teachers are members of associations formed on the basis of political party lines. Their appointment, promotion and other facilities are all determined on their participation in political activities. The Rajshahi University situation that came into print media recently was no exception, rather it was a part of the whole education scenario.