Bridging the Gap between Educational Needs for Development and Current Education Systems in Sylhet

Education builds a nation. National development highly depends on Education. Education is the main component to execute the vision of the nation. The Global scenario of socio-economic development is changing while knowledge supplants physical capital as the source of present (and future) wealth. Sylhet is far better that other division of the country in terms of potentiality of educational, social, economic development but its current educational position is not so satisfactory at all. Basic reasons for underdevelopment of sylhet are mismatching its needs and traditional development systems and its impact may hinder future development of the syslhet though it has abundant unique resources. This paper reveals the current situation of the education development of Sylhet and key indicators of the underdevelopment of the region developed by the FGD and expert opinion and field survey. It also focuses how the sylhet will come out from current hindrance and FGD suggestion for improvement of Sylhet. Education is the learning of knowledge, information and skills during the course of life. In Oxford Dictionary, “Education refers to the process of training and instruction especially of children and young people in schools, colleges, etc. which is designed to give knowledge and develop skills.” Education is a broad concept, referring to all the experiences in which students can learn something. Alternative education, also known as non-traditional education or educational alternative, is a broad term that may be used to refer to all forms of education outside of traditional education (for all age groups and levels of education).1 Webster defines education as the process of educating or teaching (now that's really useful). Education is of paramount importance to a nation. It is the quality of education that shapes the long term prosperity and well being of both nations and their people[1]. Education is a vehicle of social progress and socio economic transformation. It is the process by which people acquire knowledge, skills, habits, values or attitudes. The word ‘education’ is also used to describe the results of educational process. It is conceived to be an on going process[2]. In Bangladesh, secondary education is one of the most important and biggest sub-sectors in education having huge number of institutions and teachers. The rate of enrolment in secondary sub-sector increased significantly in last decade but in terms of quality, it is not up to the mark. As mentioned by National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB). Too many of our young people are dropping out of school each year. Too many are not going on to the next year. Too many of them are not able to be present for the Board examinations.

The educational attainment of a population relates to people capacity to use knowledge which leads to economic growth of a country[3]. It is essential for any levels of the human life[4]. Bangladesh is low educated country within a developing nation of Asia while Sylhet division holds lowest education rate among all divisions in Bangladesh[5]. Surprisingly in the birth of Pakistan in 1947, education rate of Sylhet district was as double as rate of East Pakistan which is 22% while East Pakistan holds only 11%. At that time most of the educated people worked in top level of civil and defense services. Even now days, many people of Sylhet region worked in different bureaucratic and extraordinary job in different top levels government bodies which is satisfactory level compare with the current educational position of Sylhet region. In every year many of the students drop out in the primary, secondary level, and higher secondary level which is alarming case for this regional development. Sylhet is the number one position in case of drop out students in secondary level[6]. Competitiveness of education system depends on the stable growth of education rate, commitment to the education and strategic plan for them. So, competitiveness education cannot be ensured within a short period its required long term plan for ensuring growing education rate and quality education system for the region. The study will broaden the knowledge of the relevant fields. From the study the possible initiatives that could be taken for improving the education system with the vision 2020 that Bangladesh will have much greater diversity of provision and targets of skill training[7] and finally a conclusion will be drawn suggesting some recommendations for effective and efficient education systems for developing Sylhet as a branded division in Bangladesh in case of educational competency.


[1] Uddin A. M. (2000), “Applying Total Quality Management to Educational Instruction: Evidence from a private University in Bangladesh”, Dhaka University journal of Business Studies, Vol-xxi, No-1, June-2000,P51.
[2] Begum M.(2008), “School Based Assessment: Will it Really Change the Education Scenario in Bangladesh”, International education studies, Vol-1, N0-2, may 2008.
[3] World Development Report (1998), “Knowledge for Development- Power and Reach of Knowledge”, Oxford University Press, USA P23.
[4] Himel H. R.(2009), “Education System and rate compare with the population of Sylhet Region”, The Daily Sylheter Dak,, 17th February, 2009.
[5] The Prothom Alo, Survey Report, 3rd April, 2007.
[6] The Daily Samakal (2008), “List of drop out students in secondary level”, 25th October, 2008.
[7] World Bank Report (2000), “Education Sector Review”, the university press Ltd., first published, Dhaka.

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