A wrong policy
The year that saw a revolution in country's education sector must be painful for people who really want a change in education system for substantial development of the country. I was astonished to see Dhaka University's admission procedure that technically banned students from madrasa backgrounds from getting admitted to some key departments. More amazingly, the decision coincided with rising militancy threats that turned out to be a big obstacle for the country's development, investment and everything. This insurgency is mostly led by some madrasa teachers and students.
Let me explain how the university's decision would help breed fanaticism with more pace. We need to eradicate the threat of militancy. Since illiteracy and wrong lessons about Islam at the madrasas were to blame for the terrifying militant activities, shouldn't we take initiative to educate those people up? Even the prime minister said those people were misguided and got wrong lessons about Islam.
All we need is to make them feel they are wrong. We should have offered them quota, instead of barring them. We need some educated leaders from that community that could really rescue them from the brimming well of hate against development and the governments. Instead, we tried our best to deter them from getting higher education when some of them are coming up with outstanding results. It is a good sign that they are trying to get higher education. Some newspapers reported that madrasa students were humiliated at their viva for admission.
I think The Daily Star can play a role to remove the maltreatment of madrasa students. As an opinion leader, The Daily Star could contribute to reducing militancy also.
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