BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Thursday accused the Sheikh Hasina administration of destroying the country’s education system by prioritising pass rates of 90-95 per-cent over academic standards and moral development.
He alleged that excessive politicisation, administrative pressure and widespread irregularities had severely weakened the education sector, leaving its moral foundation paralysed.
Rizvi made the remarks at the closing session of a teachers’ convention organised by Shikshak-Karmachari Oikya Jote at the Institution of Engineers auditorium in Ramna of Dhaka.
He said education should develop enlightened individuals with strong moral values, but the previous government had focused on producing high examination pass rates rather than ensuring meaningful learning.
According to Rizvi, morality and educational standards were disregarded to achieve pass rates of 90-95%, ultimately undermining the country’s education system.
He alleged that teachers and education officials faced pressure from higher authorities to ensure students passed examinations, regardless of their academic performance.
Describing the chain of intimidation, Rizvi said ministers pressured directors general, who then pressured education officers, while the officers in turn threatened headteachers to secure higher pass rates.
He stressed that quality education should go beyond teaching Bangla, English, mathematics, geography and history, ensuring students also develop moral values alongside academic knowledge.
Criticising political interference in education, Rizvi alleged that textbooks during Hasina’s tenure featured her father’s photograph on the back cover and praise for herself on the front cover.
He argued that such practices undermined educational standards by prioritising political messaging over learning.
Rizvi urged teachers to work towards improving education quality alongside pursuing their professional rights and demands.
He warned that the nation could not develop a strong foundation without quality education.
The BNP leader acknowledged that teachers had secured several demands through prolonged movements and urged them to continue campaigning for the full nationalisation of their jobs.
He also criticised alleged harassment and irregularities in teacher transfers, citing instances in which husbands and wives were posted to distant locations. He described such practices as examples of bureaucratic indifference and administrative mismanagement.
Expressing optimism that teachers’ legitimate demands would be fulfilled, he said he believed Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would implement the commitments made by his mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.
