No need for group separation at SSC level: PM Hasina

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said there is no need for group separation in class nine and all students can take up same subjects up to Secondary School Certificate (SSC) level, reports news agency UNB.

"I think that there is no need to have this (group) separation at all," she said while distributing the Prime Minister Gold Medal-2018 to 172 students from public and private universities for their outstanding academic achievements.

In Bangladesh, group separation takes place at class nine.

The award giving ceremony, under the auspices of University Grants Commission (UGC), was held at Shapla Hall of the Prime Minister’s Office in the capital.

Sheikh Hasina said everyone has to keep pace with the modern technology based era. She said once students were not interested to study science.

"To me, there’s no need for this group separation at all because everyone can study all subjects until the SSC exams. It’s better to have group separation after SSC. At least the students can have the chance to flourish their merits," she said.

The prime minister further said many countries, including the USA, do not have this kind of group separation. She said Ayub Khan had introduced this system in 1963. "I think it’s better to not have this."

She also said that all subjects are now related to science and there is nothing beyond the purview of science.

Talking about the fourth industrial revolution, the prime minister said technology-based industries are growing and that will be flourished further.

"If we can build up our people with proper education and skill, there will be no problem for us at all. Rather we could help other countries as well. We want to work that way," she said.

She emphasised the diversification of education which will pave way for employment abroad and advance the country simultaneously.

"For the development of education and having an educated nation, we’ll do whatever’s needed," she said.

UGC chairman professor Kazi Shahidullah presided over the ceremony. Education minister Dipu Moni, education secretary Mahbub Hossain also spoke at the programme.

Bangladesh Agriculture University's fisheries technology department student Mobarok Hossain and Jagannath University's management studies department student Sharmin Sultana addressed the programme on behalf of the medal recipients.

The prime minister put emphasis on strengthening the supervision of UGC on every university of the country. "We want the UGC to supervise every university of the country extensively."

She said there should be a uniform policy for all universities to appoint teachers and employees. "There should be seat limitation for a particular university to ensure standard of education," the prime minister added.

Prime minister Hasina said the government is taking steps to expand the areas of UGC through strengthening it, increasing its workforce and skill.

"We’re taking steps to bring everything under discipline. We’ve enacted the Private University Act, accountability of the academic and administrative activities of the private universities have been ensured, which was absent in the past," she said.

The prime minister also put emphasis on establishing specialised universities in different areas of the country. Putting emphasis on research activities, she said that it is not possible to reach the peak of development without research.