​Shahin Fakir:
​The so-called ‘kindergarten’ or KG schools are now sprouting like a frog’s umbrella in every nook and corner of the country, in neighborhoods and neighborhoods. Although these institutions are doing a booming business with flashy advertisements, attractive uniforms and the temptation of studying in English, the country’s traditional government primary education system has been cornered by the crowd. Despite having infrastructure and a large number of teachers, many government primary schools in the country are facing a student crisis.
​Parents are enjoying flashy advertisements
​On the ground, it can be seen that most kindergartens are somehow running in a dilapidated house or two-three rooms in a commercial building on rent. There is no playground, there is not enough light and air. However, the parents have developed the impression that KG schools are more supervised than government schools.
​Talking to parents, it is learned that due to lack of trust in the quality of education in government schools and the culture of private tuition, they are forced to spend more and go towards kindergarten. This is directly affecting government primary schools.
​Government schools are suffering due to lack of students
​Despite trained teachers and government stipends in government primary schools, the number of students in many schools is decreasing at an alarming rate. This picture is especially alarming in urban areas. It is seen that even though there is a government school in the same neighborhood, the number of students there is only a handful, while the kindergarten in a narrow lane next door is overflowing.
​According to educationists, this distrust of the general public in the government system is shaking the core of primary education.
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Stakeholders have identified several main reasons in this regard,
​Lack of supervision: Kindergartens are setting their own curriculum and fees without following any specific policies.
​Misconceptions: Private institutions are capitalizing on the blind belief that learning English will lead to a better future.
​Teacher-student ratio: Although there is no shortage of teachers in government schools, there is a lack of personal communication.
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​According to education experts, if this uncontrolled expansion of kindergartens cannot be stopped and people’s trust in government primary schools cannot be restored, the country will eventually fall into the hands of a two-tier (rich and poor) discriminatory education system.
​”Primary education is the backbone of a state. But today this backbone is bowing to the weight of coaching and commercial institutions. To ensure quality education, government schools must focus not only on infrastructure, but also on quality environment and modernization.”
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To save the government primary education system, strict monitoring and reining in kindergartens are the need of the hour. Otherwise, the slogan of ‘Education for All’ will remain limited to paper only.
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