Photo: Collected
BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said that if a nation ignores the importance of education and the education system, it cannot survive in a competitive world. The country’s education system was toyed with over the past 17 years.
He said this in his speech as chief guest at a reception for meritorious students of the SSC examination at Keraniganj Mohila Degree College on Saturday.
Rizvi said there was a time when how essential study and education are for a nation was not properly considered. The effects of irregularities and mismanagement at various levels of the education system have fallen on students and the entire nation.
He alleged that in many cases only the questions were written on the question paper and nothing was done beyond that. Pressure was applied through phone calls from powerful quarters to have students passed. Through such activities, the quality of education has been damaged over a long period and the backbone of the nation has been weakened.
Rizvi further said that to compete in the various branches of technology in today’s world, students must be built up as modern and skilled. Yet the education system was run in such a way that Bangladesh’s capacity in global competition was hindered in terms of technology.
He said arrangements had been made to keep us inactive in the field where people will compete in the various branches of technology.
In his view, educational institutions must be equipped with the necessary facilities and technological equipment in keeping with the times. Students must be built up to suit the world of modern technology and knowledge instead of being kept confined only to conventional education. Education is one of the main foundations of a country’s development; so no nation can achieve the desired progress if the education system is destroyed or if sufficient incentives and opportunities are not created for students.
On women’s empowerment, Rizvi said that whenever BNP has come to the responsibility of running the state, it has taken various initiatives for women’s empowerment and the spread of education. He also claimed that BNP has given importance to expanding educational opportunities for women.
He said BNP’s head of government Tarique Rahman has spoken of expanding the opportunity of free education for women up to the graduate (honours) level. If women are made educated and skilled, there will be a positive impact in every sphere — family, society and the state.
Rizvi said proper incentives and investment in education must be ensured and students must be given the opportunity to develop their merit and talent. Alongside this, it is essential to ensure the necessary infrastructure, technology and learning environment to make educational institutions fit for the age. The nation will not advance in any way if education is destroyed and there are no incentives.
Teachers and students of the college, guardians and local people of various levels were present at the event. Students who achieved outstanding results in the SSC were accorded a reception at the time.
