Deputy Commissioners (DCs) have said that the attendance of students in government primary schools has decreased due to the proliferation of Qawmi madrasahs.

The government will hold a meeting in this regard with the leaders of the madrasa boards to ensure that the lower secondary books prepared by the National Curriculum and Textbook Board(NCTB) are taught in Qawmi madrasahs.

Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury said these to reporters after the working session of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education on Sunday, the first day of the DC Conference at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium.

DCs have said that due to the presence of Qawmi madrasas all over the country, even though students are enrolled in primary schools, there is a decrease in attendance. This is a big challenge for all, it has to be solved, he added.

“We will discuss whether Qawmi madrasas can be closed when classes take place in primary schools. We will work with the field administration and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education in this regard,” he said further.

The education minister said, “The national curriculum should be followed until students reach a certain age. Otherwise, they will not be able to acquire the desired qualifications and skills. We have to work with madrasa authorities.”

“Discussions will be held with madrasa leaders. Last year, I sat with them and discussed whether the learning outcomes to be achieved in the light of lower secondary level education are being ensured in their institutions,” he said further.

He went on to say, “If the desired skills are not achieved at the school level, how can you retain them at the master’s level? The issue will be discussed. We want those studying in Qawmi madrasas to get the minimum learning outcomes they are supposed to achieve after a certain age range. The education system should be brought into a framework.”

“The DCs have talked about many things. They did not report any negative experiences with the new curriculum being implemented. As a result, we can assume that the teaching-learning process of the curriculum has been accepted by teachers and parents,” the minister said.

Health minister seeks help of DCs to stop illegal clinics, diagnostics

Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Samanta Lal Sen has sought the help of DCs in the campaign to shut down illegal clinics and diagnostic centres.

After the DC conference, the minister said, “The ministry does not have judicial power. That is with the DCs. So we have asked for their help so that this operation is done smoothly without any kind of obstacle.”

The DCs said they do not have manpower in many places. The number of patients in the hospital is more than the beds. The money is not allocated accordingly. Doctors are struggling with so many patients. The DCs have been assured that the problems will be solved phase by phase, he said.

According to the notification of the cabinet department about the session of the Ministry of Health, there was a discussion about ensuring zero home delivery through integrated mother and child health services in all upazilas of the country and recruitment of manpower in 17 trauma centres of the country.