Professor Dr. Moha: Yamin Hossain
Rajshahi University
⊕ They don’t read textbooks!
⊕ They study notes from old photocopy shops!
⊕ They don’t study regularly, only reading during exam time!
⊕ Very little subject-based knowledge!
⊕ Extreme obsession with BCS, but very few succeed in securing jobs!
⊕ Even if they get a job, lack of subject knowledge leads to severe frustration at work!
The lack of textbook reading among students in Bangladesh’s education system and universities has become a deeply concerning issue. Currently, most students depend on notes and suggestions just to achieve good exam results, especially to score an A+. Without acquiring in-depth knowledge from textbooks, they progress by rote memorization solely for exams. This tendency creates a deficiency in foundational knowledge, which in turn affects their academic standards and professional competencies.
Causes of the Current Situation:
1. Dependence on Notes and Suggestions:
In the current education system, the exam syllabi have often become limited, where teachers encourage students to prepare using specific notes and suggestions. As a result, students refrain from thoroughly reading books or reflecting deeply on topics.
2. Competitive Examinations:
Especially the BCS exam has become a primary goal for students. Most students prioritize job preparation over genuine learning and knowledge acquisition. They believe they must study only to get a BCS job, while in reality, the success rate in this field is very low.
3. Lack of Research:
There is a lack of research activity in the country’s universities. Most students and teachers are not interested in research or creating new knowledge, which lowers the quality of education. Practicing research is impossible without deep knowledge from textbooks.
The Impact:
⊕ Lack of basic knowledge:
Instead of building fundamental understanding by reading textbooks, students rely on memorizing notes, preventing them from delving deep into subjects. As a result, they become incapable of solving real-life problems.
⊕ Job inefficiency:
Due to their lack of skills, students lag behind in the job market. In particular, many fail to succeed in the BCS exams, which leads them to frustration.
Ways to Overcome:
1. Encourage textbook reading:
Students need to develop the habit of reading textbooks. For this, teachers should change their teaching approach to prioritize textbooks over notes. Teachers should explain specific textbook sections in class and encourage students to understand those parts deeply.
2. Increase research opportunities:
Universities need to create an environment conducive to research. Students should be encouraged to participate in fundamental research, with teachers serving as mentors. Through research, students will be more interested in gaining knowledge from textbooks.
3. Improve the quality of real education:
Priority should be given to improving the quality of education rather than only focusing on exam results. Students should be taught that simply achieving an A+ or preparing for jobs is not the sole purpose of education. Rather, true success comes from acquiring knowledge and enhancing skills.
4. Curriculum Reform:
Curricula should make textbook-centered learning mandatory. Changes should be made to encourage analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and creativity in students.
5. Teacher Training:
If teachers do not emphasize textbooks, students will not value them either. Therefore, special training must be provided to teachers for textbook-based instruction so they can effectively guide students in the right direction.
6. Creating Alternative Job Opportunities:
There needs to be more professional opportunities outside of exams like BCS, so that students are not fixated on a single goal and can become experts in their own fields of interest.
Conclusion:
The lack of textbook-based knowledge acquisition in Bangladesh’s education system is a serious problem. If students continue to rely only on notes and suggestions, genuine education will not be possible. To overcome this situation, a new perspective on education is necessary—one that highlights the importance of textbooks and the true purpose of gaining knowledge. Only then can the nation return to genuine scholarly pursuit, which is crucial for the overall development of the country.
Note: Collected from Facebook:——–https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1E4ucbF9Sr/
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