Dhaka Bureau: The education administration is going to start the new curriculum in the sixth and seventh classes from the next academic year with only five days of training for the teachers. About 450,000 teachers across the country will be trained in the program called ‘Sikshakram Bistaran Training’. In this 5-day training from 27th to 31st December, what is in the new curriculum for teachers, what to do and what will be the evaluation system – these three things will be explained. Teachers’ winter break has been canceled in schools for training. Before this, around 17 thousand teachers from all over the country have been made ‘Master Trainers’ through 6 days of training. They are the ones who will now train the teachers in the district with the new curriculum.
Stakeholders said that due to lack of proper training and understanding of the teachers, the creative approach education started 10 years ago did not bring much benefit. Although creative methods were invented to break out of rote learning, it became a note-guided learning system. The question now arises as to how effective the new education system can be by training the teachers in Namkawaste in the same way. According to them, the new education system emphasizes on ‘hands-on’ education. In this new education system, students don’t have to study privately, they don’t have to go for coaching. You won’t even need a tutor. This will stop the coaching and private teaching business of most of the teachers. Teachers are not very enthusiastic about the new education system as the ‘upper income’ has been stopped.
When asked to know, the director general of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (MAUSI) Professor Nehal Ahmed told the media that the new education system is undoubtedly very difficult and complex. Bangladesh is entering the age of hands-on education after leaving the lecture-based education system. This is leading to major changes in education. Naturally, at the beginning of something new, there will be a crisis, a shock. It will be fine as you push. He said that students will do everything in the new education system. Sirs will only watch from the side.
Those concerned said that the government is going to implement the new curriculum from next year by making major changes in the assessment and study methods. Now it is being implemented experimentally in 62 educational institutions in sixth grade. According to the action plan of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), this new curriculum from pre-primary to higher secondary level will be fully introduced in different classes from next year. Among them, the new curriculum will be implemented in the sixth and seventh classes in 2023. In 2024, it will be introduced in the third, fourth, eighth and ninth classes. In 2025, the new curriculum will be introduced in the fifth and tenth classes. The timeline for the implementation of the new curriculum has been fixed in the year 2026 for class XI and class XII in 2027. The new curriculum will bring major changes in student assessment. Continuous assessment (in-learning) will be more common in educational institutions than traditional tests.
Education Minister Dipu Moni said, if the new curriculum can be fully and properly implemented, then after the next five years we can see a little change. And after 10 years big changes will be seen. People associated with the formulation of the new syllabus are claiming that the pattern of questions will change in the light of the new syllabus. This change will be communicated to the teachers in the training.
Stakeholders said that in the new curriculum, there will be more continuous assessment (during learning) in educational institutions than traditional examinations. There will be no formal examination till class III. At this stage the assessment will be based on the various learning activities carried out throughout the year. 60 percent assessment of Bengali, English, Mathematics, Science and Social Science subjects in class IV and V will be based on continuous learning activities. The remaining 40 percent of the assessment will be based on traditional tests. 60 percent assessment in Bengali, English, Mathematics, Science and Social Science will be conducted during class VI to VIII. 40 percent assessment will be based on examination. 50% assessment in Bengali, English, Mathematics, Science and Social Science will be conducted during class 9th and 10th. The remaining evaluation will be through examination. In other subjects of classes IV, V, VI, VIII, IX and X, the whole assessment will be during learning.
However, there will be more emphasis on evaluation through examination in class XI and XII. At this level 70 per cent assessment will be through examination. The remaining 30 percent will be assessed during learning. Presently, secondary and higher secondary level examinations consist of creative questions and multiple choice questions (MCQs). The creative method asks for answers by dividing a question into four parts. But NCTB officials said that there will be no question papers in the existing structure of the new curriculum.
What’s in the new book?
In the new curriculum, there will be 10 books on 10 subjects in class VI and VII. These are Bengali, English, Mathematics, Life and Livelihood, Science, Social Science, Digital Technology, Physical and Mental Health and Safety, Religious Education (Religion wise) and Arts and Culture. Now 12 to 14 books are taught in sixth to tenth standard. And in the new curriculum, 8 subjects have been fixed for teaching from first to fifth class.
These are Bengali, English, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Religious Education, Physical and Mental Health and Safety, Arts and Culture. But students will not get books for all subjects. Some books will be taught in the light of ‘Teacher’s Guide’. So far, in the sixth standard, Bengali subject was mainly taught through Anand Path (Bengali speed reading), Bengali grammar and composition and Charupath. The new curriculum will have a book in Bengali. The name of the book is ‘Bangla’.
The book is written keeping in mind that the students learn to communicate well in standard Bengali language. Some strategies and tasks are also included so that students can improve their language skills on their own.
Work and life oriented education was taught in the sixth standard. Now the new book titled ‘Life and Livelihood’ has lots of hands-on teaching content. For example, in the ‘joy at work’ part of this book, it is supposed to teach various practical aspects of life, starting from waking up in the morning and making your own bed. These are supposed to be taught through various exercises.
