Education Minister Urges Teachers to Treat Students Like Their Own Children
Bangladesh's Minister of Education and Primary and Mass Education, A. N. M. Ehsanul Haque Milan, has called upon teachers to approach their profession with the dedication of parents, emphasizing that students should be educated as if they were their own children. He stressed the importance of nurturing students' moral values alongside their academic development. Minister Milan made these remarks on Tuesday at a consultation meeting for officials on implementing higher quality primary education, held at the PTI auditorium in Mirpur, Dhaka. He urged all stakeholders, including teachers, parents, and the education administration, to collaborate for the advancement of primary education.
Addressing concerns about the youth, the minister noted that many young individuals stray from their studies, becoming addicted to mobile phones and drugs. He highlighted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's emphasis on balancing education with sports to re-engage this demographic. To this end, the ministry is preparing to launch a nationwide Prime Minister's Gold Cup Football Tournament, slated for inauguration by the Prime Minister in Chittagong on August 9th. The government is also implementing initiatives like providing free school uniforms and Mid-Day Meals to make schools more attractive to children.
During the event, Primary and Mass Education State Minister Bithi Akhter (also known as Bobby Hajjaj) announced that the responsibilities and benefits for primary education officials will increase in the future, and private schools will also come under increased scrutiny. Officials from the primary education sector presented various existing challenges within primary schools. The meeting was presided over by the Secretary of Primary and Mass Education, Md. Sakhawat Hossain, and moderated by the Director General of the Primary Education Directorate, Shahina Ferdousi, according to a ministry press release.
The directive for teachers to view students as their own children, while emotionally resonant, highlights a systemic challenge in fostering genuine engagement and addressing youth disengagement from education. The emphasis on extracurriculars like football and incentives such as free uniforms and meals suggests a recognition that traditional pedagogical methods alone may not suffice to combat the allure of digital distractions and substance abuse among the youth. This approach attempts to create a more holistic and attractive learning environment, acknowledging that societal factors significantly influence educational outcomes. The planned expansion of oversight to private schools indicates a broader governmental effort to standardize and elevate the quality of primary education across the board, potentially driven by concerns over educational equity and effectiveness in preparing the next generation for future societal and economic demands.
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