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On English medium schools

27 June 2004, 18:00 PM
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
By Sameer Rahman, MSc Economic History, London SchoolSameer Rahman, MSc Economic History, London School
27 June 2004, 18:00 PM
My e-mail is a response to Mr. Saif's letter concerning the English medium schools in Bangladesh. As a fellow part-time tutor in an English medium school, I would like to respond to some of the comments put forward by him in his letter. First, Mr Saif you have argued that the majority of the English medium students are mediocre students. What are you trying to prove? I hope you do not want to reopen the timeless debate of whether English or Bangla medium students are better. However, your letter does paint such a picture. In response as a rational person I believe that the ability of a student to be good in their studies does not depend whether he/she studies in an English or Bangla medium school. It depends on their own will, just because their parents are paying more for their studies does not guarantee good results if their children are not willing to show a interest in their studies.

Second, you seem to contradict yourself. On the one hand, you argue that English medium students are mediocre students being neither good in English or Bangla, but on the other hand you comment that too much homework is being given to the students of the former category. I would like to ask you what is the purpose of homework, is it not for students to improve their educational standards? If so, then English medium schools are at least making attempts to improve the academic capability of their students and thus it is not a point to complain about.

Third, you seem to be sexually discriminating against women. I don't see a reason why women teachers should be given a bad eye for wearing make-up. If so the same should go for male tutors who wear smart and expensive clothes while teaching in school or any educational institution. Also, I don't see a valid reason for any person to complain about the positive discrimination of females in the teaching posts of English medium schools. As a student of economics, I will note that this is one of the few sectors of the economy where an increasing number of female graduates can find employment in.

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Nonetheless, I congratulate you for bringing about the topic of minimum standards or quality. However, I believe the government should set up a board not only for controlling the standard of English medium schools but the Bengali medium ones as well.