Fresh breeze starts blowing in the country’s educational arena
A recent news item published in a national daily drew much attention from hundreds of newspaper readers.
The report headlined “Students will no longer be made to stand on roads to greet guests: Education Minister” has brought smiles on the faces of a large number of parents and guardians.
Minister for Education ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon issued the directive while speaking as the chief guest at an event held in his home district Chandpur’s Kachua Upazila.
On his way to the programme venue, the minister noticed students standing along the roadside to welcome him.
He instantly expressed his annoyance saying that he prefers to move around like an ordinary person and no student should be kept waiting on the road for his arrival.
He also termed the practice “unacceptable.” This type of practice was very much prevalent during the fascist rule of Sheikh Hasina who fled the country back in 2004 to evade the wrath of students and people.
A large number of parents and guardians have heaved a sigh of relief for the minister’s bold move which has ushered in a new era of healthy politics.
In another landmark decision, the education minister abolished the lottery system introducing the admission test in educational institutions.
Being the basic ministry, the ministry of education is now safe in the hands of Ehsanul Haque who is popularly known as Milon.
During the past BNP rule headed by Begum Khaleda Zia (now late) during a period from 2001 to 2006, Milon served the nation as the state minister for education.
At that time, he almost stopped the bad practice of copying from public examination.
Spending money from his own pocket, he used to visit the exam centres across the country by taking helicopters on rent.
For his surprise, high-speed visits to examination centres to enforce fair exams, he earned popularity as “Helicopter Milon.”
Ironically, the entire situation changed during 17 years of fascist rule when the country’s education system crumbled.
Now a fresh breeze has started blowing in the country’s educational arena after the takeover of the education ministry by Milon following a landslide victory of BNP led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in this year’s national election.
· On his first working day, he pledged “sweeping reforms” to modernise the education sector, stating that “incremental progress would not suffice” and that “much bigger leaps” (referred to as a “pole vault jump”) are needed to align with global standards.
· He has stressed a zero-tolerance policy against cheating in exams, nepotism in teacher recruitment, and the dismantling of the existing, widely criticised, lottery-based school admission system in favour of entrance tests starting in 2027.
· With a PhD focused on the role of technical education in Bangladesh’s development, Dr Milon prioritises market-oriented and skill-based education.
During Begum Khaleda Zia’s regime, Milon, the then state minister for education, was given an additional charge as the minister for the district of Nilphamari, the home district of the writer of this story. At that period, he found Milon to be a person of multifarious qualities.
Valiant freedom fighter BA 6966 Shaheed Captain R A M Khairul Bashar ASC, is the elder brother of this writer. Milon held high esteem for the great sons of the soil.
In recognition of Captain Bashar’s supreme sacrifice and bloodshed for the independence of Bangladesh, he was instrumental behind the construction of Shaheed Captain Bashar Gate at the entrance of Nilphamari town.
At his initiative, Nilphamari Zila Parishad built the gate in 2005 imitating the National Museum in Dhaka’s Savar neighbourhood.
Shaheed Janoni (mother of Shaheed Captain Bashar) Rizia Ahmed officially inaugurated the gate on 26 March, the Independence and National Day of that year.
This writer also recalls with gratitude the warm reception accorded to the valiant freedom fighter and Shaheed family on the Independence and National Day of the country in 2004 by Nilphamari District Unit Command of Bangladesh Muktijodhya Sangsad.
At the reception, the then State Minister for Education, A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon, honoured Shaheed Janoni by wrapping a shawl around her.
Salute to him for his noble gesture and heartfelt tribute to the golden son of the soil and his family.
Education is the backbone of the nation.
That is why Milon is out to overhaul the country’s entire education system in a bid to restore the lost glory of the country that we have achieved at the cost of blood of lakhs of Bashar.
(The writer is a senior journalist
and columnist E-mail: [email protected])
