School attendance
Adnan / Driknews
We must all be concerned about the recently published figures showing that Bangladesh has one of the poorest levels of school attendance of any country. Among the suggestions was to extend the school day, week and year and change the school year to one that goes from August-July. As those of us who already have such a school year swelter over the end-of-year exams, I do believe, however, that this change would be a good idea. I experienced the January-December school year for 2 ½ years in Haluaghat and, as I looked out on the very few pupils who ever turned up in January, I realized that the beautiful Bangladeshi winter had a lot to answer for! Some of the pupils we did not see until the end of February! The combination of the glorious weather plus the end-of-school-year mood is a killer when it comes to getting the pupils back to work on time! The only problem with exams in May and June is that a generator might have to be considered more than an optional extra in some areas. I do not think that a massive extension of the school day, week or year will work for the simple reason that rather a lot of pupils are not turning up as it is! (In some government schools, teacher attendance isn't so good either….) Instead, it would surely be better for the education authorities to fix the times around those who ARE disciplined and work out the incentives that will put the others under pressure to be disciplined also minimum attendance demanded for the taking of tests and exams for pupils? Salary loss for teachers properly enforced? Many pupils in government schools are surely required to share in the work of the home, farm etc and having a longer working week or day would be too much. If pupils and teachers are working hard, they need reasonable holidays. Why not focus on getting most of them there on the days schools are open? Moreover, to extend the school day would only work if all pupils, rich and poor, came to school with a good breakfast inside them and with a nourishing tiffin! I regret to report, this is not always the case. Oh - and a decent night's sleep! All government schools should provide a 'proper' midday meal. If that happens, in any country, what inevitably happens is not only a startling impact on child nutrition but good educational results partly because the attendance rockets! Mission accomplished!
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