English education
I do not like to say anything about the importance of English education in our country. An image has grown up in our country that a person having profound knowledge in science subjects or even in computer science but unable to speak in English fluently is not considered a literate man. But a man who can speak in English fluently is favoured by all. Even the poorest and the most illiterate persons of a village hopes that his children will speak in English. Such learning of such an important subject is still limited to the elite class in the cities. Let us spread it to the doors of all -- high or low, poor or rich, in towns or villages free of cost. There are sixty-four district headquarters in our country and every town has two high schools and two government colleges. We may set up one English Training Academy in each of the district headquarters. The English teachers of the government schools and colleges shall impart knowledge of English grammar to the students in the Academy. The teachers of the upazila level schools shall be the students of the academy. Every school, college and madrassah within the upazila headquarters shall send one teacher to the academy for higher training in English grammar. They will attend the academy in the early morning so that they may also attend their respective educational institutions and can teach their students grammar in the manner prescribed by the academy. After one year a large number of teachers shall come out from the academy well equipped to teach English grammar and spoken English too.
Infrastructure facilities of education are available at both district and upazila headquarters. If the plan suggested by me is implemented, within the span of two years the country will be self independent in English education. On the other hand, the government will not have to spend anything for this big project. It may be mentioned here that both the teachers and the students will be government employees. The administration of the academy should be in the hands of both the district and upazila education officers.
The Ministry of Education should supply the printed materials needed for such a training programme.
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