Editorial
Drop-out from primary level education
Ways must be found to drastically reduce its magnitude
Where universal primary education is the goal, it comes as a disquieting piece of news that 2.81 lakh students out of 24.88 lakh registered did not take this year's Primary Education Terminal Examinations. This happens in the second year of the introduction of the primary level terminal examination system. It seems, the number of absentees keeps rising by the year. Whereas they were 1.54 lakh last year, this time around the figure has swelled by another 1.27 lakh making a total of nearly 3 lakh students falling out of the system. This is tragic in view of the high rate of illiteracy the country continues to smart under. Taking into account the drop-outs from class I-V, the addition of absentees from the terminal primary examinations raises the whole figure to an alarming proportion.
The commonly cited reason for this phenomenon is poverty, an inducing factor behind the parental reluctance to send their children to schools at all, instead to have them earn money to make both ends meet. Even though they might be initially put through schooling, their attendance would be highly irregular to be of any use.
We know the primary level education to be free with no tuition fee charged and text books distributed free of cost. Most of the parents are so poor that they cannot bear the cost of minor requirements like paper, pencils, drawing book or other stationery items. We suggest that the whole package should be given free of cost with modest mid-day meals served which would incentivise the poor students to go to the schools and be in the stream.
A terminal public examination at class V is a make-or-break event; it is crucial for an aspiring student because a pass certificate would qualify him or her to be moving to class VI and onwards up to SSC level. So the absentees risk losing out if they do not reenter the system.
The avowed purpose of the introduction of public examination at the primary level is to bring uniformity in the standards of education at that preparatory phase. But we wonder how the sheer introduction of a terminal examination at some stage by itself can ensure quality education unless a uniformity is established in standards of teaching in different schools. May be in many schools students don't find the curriculum and the method of teaching interesting enough, an area needing attention.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. 
Related News
An alarming report on children’s exposure to climate risks
3 hour(s) ago
Editorial
Why is safe water inaccessible for millions despite rising spending?
19 June 2026, 08:00 AM
Editorial
BB must confront bad loans’ true scale
18 June 2026, 18:38 PM
Editorial
Dolphin deaths must be investigated
18 June 2026, 08:00 AM
Editorial
Weak policing fuelling rise in crimes
17 June 2026, 18:18 PM
Editorial
Comments