Feature

The article that was published in the weekly “Star Campus” under the headline “What's the point of school, anyway?” caught my attention and encouraged me to write a few lines on this very sensitive issue.

With my 12 years of teaching experience in a good number of top English medium schools of the town behind me, I do agree with the writer on some aspects, but I differ with her when she puts blames on the school. I believe that a school campus environment provides education, which only books and tutors cannot do.

A student can learn punctuality, morality, discipline, perseverance, passion, manners, leadership etc. only in a good school. They also can learn how to show respect towards their teachers and parents, and how to interact with their peers and elders only in school. Iram Rahman depicted a picture of frustration all through her write-up, which also frustrates me. Therefore, I have tried my best to point out the differences existing between different types of schools.

I am happy to know that the writer at the end of her article salutes the private tutors and their mock tests for the O-level preparation. Now the question is, who are these private tutors? Obviously they are coming from any of those private English medium schools. As a matter of fact, I am also attached with one of these private English medium schools and in my leisure time I also coach O-level students, and many of them are getting A's in the respective subjects.

Actually, not only the private sector schools, but also the government institutions are allowing their students to spend a fair amount of time with their private tutors before their examinations after schools.

I however cannot deny the existence of many poor quality private English medium schools in the country. Here I can offer some suggestions as to how to develop them into standard schools.

Firstly, I believe that lack of infrastructure facilities stands in front of the development and extension of an institution. So, to improve the infrastructure facilities of the school campus, funds could be collected and allocated by the school management. It may not be possible to make the campus as beautiful as that of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College or Jahangirnagar University where there are pollution free lakes, fresh air, wonderful landscape etc that lure birds to fly in from far away countries. But it is possible to have some beautiful buildings with proper ventilation. An ideal school should have a spacious playground with sports facilities and a flower garden.

A good English medium school should aim to create an environment where high standards are the norm and students should come out of the school well-mannered, well-groomed and be able to tackle any future situation in a happy frame of mind.

By having provided a safe and secure place, the school should try to develop the students. In other words, it is a school where students have learnt to play, compete, and mould their personality. Teachers should encourage students to do their best in all aspects, not only in learning but also in sports, cultural activities, debate and many others.

English medium schools should be well-equipped with not only the classroom facilities, but also with rich library room, computer laboratory, science laboratory, first-aid and sick room, common room with indoor-games facilities, audio-visual aids, cafeteria or school canteen with quality fast food and of course, with a high quality dedicated teaching staff.

The principal of the school should possess a good personality and should be a good coordinator between teachers and guardians.

The management of the school could include some special teachers to the main teaching staff. For example, music teachers, dance and drama teachers, physical instructors, arts and crafts teachers, religious teachers etc. They could take positive steps in the observation of the special days like Independence day, Victory day, Language Martyr's day, Fashion Show on Bangla New Year's day, Annual Sports, Annual Cultural Programme, Picnic, Excursion, and religious occasions like Eid-e-Miladunnabi etcetera.

If possible, the principal should arrange some internationally accredited teachers' training programmes conducted by qualified trainers from abroad; or some devoted teachers of the school could be sent to the teachers' training institutions at home and abroad.

The top management must have some definite admission policy where an English medium school should run hand-in-hand with other top English medium schools in the town.

In the case of the senior students or O-level students, the principal could come forward to establish an improved after-school coaching to provide proper guidance to the students by conducting as many mock tests as possible, so that, they could perform their best in the upcoming O-level examinations.

I believe that if both the school authorities and the teaching staff work together to expand the facilities even a newly set up school could come out as a successful centre of excellence. When that happens, the teachers as well as the nation will benefit in the future.

Finally, I want to convey the message to Iram Rahman through my article that let us not get too much frustrated on the private sector schools; rather let us start a new journey hand-in-hand in promoting really poor standard private schools of Bangladesh so that they may become centre of excellence one

(The author is former Vice-principal of an English medium school in Dhaka.
Email : nazmaqntrack@yahoo.com)