Bangladesh News

Sparkling eyes spoke of their dream of winning the world, as relentless applause for extraordinary achievements of around a thousand of ‘O’ and ‘A’ level students reverberated through the hall yesterday, followed by music and dance performances in Shaheed Suhrawardy National Indoor Stadium in the capital.

Recognised by The Daily Star that honoured the students at its 9th annual award presentation ceremony, the teachers and parents, who work behind the scenes for the achievements of their students and children, expressed their happiness while renewing their vow to do more for the nation builders of tomorrow.

“I want to invent modern medicines… and make those available for cheap prices for all strata of the people,” said Fahad Ibn Azam, who attained the world’s highest A level mark in chemistry from Academia.

Determined Azam, who now studies at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) under Dhaka University, said he plans to join the pharmaceutical industry.

Business will create a lot of jobs helping the people of this country, he told The Daily Star at the stadium packed with outstanding young achievers.

Asked if he would like to go abroad for higher studies, Azam said, “Yes, I would, but will surely come back and use my expertise here.”

Sarah Fouzia Choudhury of Mastermind School, who secured the world’s highest A level marks in mathematics and physics, said the collective dream of developing the country will surely become a reality after a few generations of them.

Expressing her deep commitment to the nation building process, she said small steps have already been taken in the right direction for making Bangladesh a prosperous country, generating hopes among all. Fouzia also got a special award for her performance in the school.

Stating that The Daily Star’s recognition of the students inspired him tremendously, Towfiq Hossain of Adroit International School said he wants to study electronics engineering, preferably in Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), and wants to contribute to the development of the discipline in the country.

Towfiq, who achieved 6 As in ‘O’ level exams, said many bright students go abroad for studies, but do not return. They should come back and help build a prosperous Bangladesh, he added.

He thinks a lack of unity among leaders of the country and corruption are two major problems of Bangladesh. “At our levels we should be determined that we shall not get involved in corruption,” he asserted.

Terming the English medium students’ recognition by The Daily Star a milestone, Sunnydale Principal Tazeen Ahmed said the misconception that English medium schools teach only foreign cultures, will slowly get dispelled by such initiatives

“We in our schools teach Bangla and regularly organise various traditional cultural programmes,” she said.

The problem however is that the graduates of these schools find it difficult to get admission to public universities because their syllabus is different. “They need to study for an additional year to get admissions to public universities.”

Scholastica Deputy Chairperson and Head of Operations Wasima Parveen said they prepare their students as good citizens to contribute to the nation building.

“We want people of all strata to study in schools like Scholastica. We also offer scholarships. We want to prepare our students as independent thinkers and good human beings,” Wasima Parveen said.

Sharing her thoughts with The Daily Star, South Breeze School Principal Zeenat Chowdhury said to upgrade the standard of education in the country salaries and other perks of the teachers must go up.

She suggested creating more space in private universities and upgrading the standards of those to make studying in the country attractive for students. “After all, a positive environment in the country will help them to stay here.”

Mahfuza Ahmed, mother of Farhan Ahmed, who got 8 As in O level exams from Dhanmondi Tutorial, said middle class families nowadays are trying to educate their children in English medium schools, because English is preferred in all good jobs.

Qaiser Educational Academy Founder Sarwar Hussain Chowdhury, however, said there are many discouraging factors, like high tuition fees, for middle class families to refrain from sending their children to English medium schools. “So, they are in a dilemma,” he said.