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Draft law forbids private tuition


Published : 15 Feb 2020 09:51 PM | Updated : 17 Feb 2021 06:50 AM

With a view to streamlining the country’s existing education system a new education act 2020 has been drafted.
Setting up private educational institutions would not be allowed without prior approval while private tuition, encouraging teachers’ note or guidebooks would be prohibited.

A new education policy title – ‘Education Act-2020’ recommends imposing the above restrictions. It also proposes prohibiting private tuition by a teacher of his or her same institution. Besides, the teacher cannot also use electronic media like use of internet for commercial teaching of students.

The proposed new education act 2020 will ensure
No private tuition, coaching
No private institution without prior govt approval
Govt to fix tuition of all private varsities
Branches of schools, madrasas of foreign origin must registe
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The policy also proposes fixing tuition and other fees of all private institutions and to be strictly monitored. The policy says that kindergarten schools and madrasas following foreign curriculum or any foreign educational institution have to be registered to establish or manage a branch in Bangladesh.

It suggests forcing or encouraging purchase or reading of note- books will be treated as misconduct and disciplinary action will be taken against the concerned teacher, the head of the institution and the concerned member of the management committee.
The draft of the Education Act-2020 has been finalized with various new provisions. It will be sent to the cabinet for approval very shortly. There is currently no integrated education law.

Although there are three tiers proposed in the new education policy, there are currently four tiers of education in the country. However, commercial coaching will still be operational.
Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni said at a university gathering in the capital on Thursday that the Education Act-2020 is in the final stages. The government is formulating an updated education policy and is working to implement it.

When asked, Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Department Mahbub Hossain said that progress has been made in drafting the education law. Hopefully, it can be sent to the Cabinet in a couple of weeks.

Those concerned said the proposed law mentioned the existing four tiers of education. These are – 1st tier up to fifth grade, 2nd tier secondary up to tenth grade and 3rd tier eleventh-twelfth grade upper secondary level. Then start the higher education level.
There is also pre-primary level law. The proposed education policy has mentioned the introduction of a three-level education system with the exception of pre-primary.

However, as indicated in the other section of the Act, it is indicated as a temporary arrangement. In this regard, the draft law states that for the time being, no matter what is different from any other law, the government may from time to time determine and reschedule the level of pre-primary and primary education.

If determined and rescheduled, it will be followed in general. Primary education is compulsory for all children and provision has been added as a basic right of the child. All institutions of primary education should have pre-primary education level.
It further states that unless the provisions of the Education Act are added or replaced in what is mentioned in another law, such law, rules or regulations shall be deemed to be amended by or under this Act.

The same is mentioned in Chapter Four in the case of secondary education level. The section on secondary education will be three—general education, madrasa and technical and vocational education. There is no reference to the elementary level. It did not say anything about completing existing primary education and continuing examination in eighth grade.

In the draft, only public universities have been identified in the administration of higher level education institutions or universities. There is no explicit mention of an autonomous university.

The law emphasizes the importance of attending a student's class. Students will not be able to take the test without showing proper reason if they attend class less than 5 percent.
Restrictions on physical and mental punishment of students and the provision of teacher protection have been added.