DHAKA – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today defended the holding of Primary Education Completion (PEC) and Junior School Certificate (JSC) examinations, saying that such examinations help boost the self- confidence of children.
“I know that many (people) speak against the PEC and JSC and equivalent examinations, and many have objections that why such exams are being held. But, I think that these examinations help grow the self-confidence among the
children,” she said.
The premier added: “The children are also getting certificates after completing such exams, which help them to be more attentive to study”.
The prime minister said this while formally receiving the results of Junior School Certificate (JSC), Junior Dakhil Certificate (JDC) and Primary Education Completion (PEC) and its equivalent Ebtedayee examinations.
Sheikh Hasina said everybody does not pursue higher education, while many have talents to demonstrate their skills like receiving technical education or vocational training.
“For flourishing these merits, such examinations are very much necessary…keeping this in mind, we’re giving importance to technical education and vocational training,” she said.
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid handed over the JSC and Junior Dakhil Certificate (JDC) exam results to the prime minister while Primary and Mass Education Minister Md Mustafizur Rahman handed over the PEC and Ebtedayee exam results to her at a simple ceremony held at the PM’s official Ganabhaban residence here this morning.
The chairmen of eight general education boards and one madrasa board handed over the JSC and JDC exam results of their respective boards to Sheikh Hasina.
From the same function, the prime minister also inaugurated the textbook distribution programme across the country.
As many as 35,21,97,882 free textbooks would be distributed among 4,26,19,865 primary and secondary-level students on January 1 across the country in the academic year of 2019.
The prime minister put emphasis on developing a science and technology- based educated nation, saying that only education can build a hunger and poverty-free developed and prosperous Bangladesh.
“Our motto is to build Bangladesh as a developed and prosperous country and an educated nation is essential to achieve this goal,” she said.
She added: “No nation can advance without education and that’s why we always give priority to education.”
Sheikh Hasina said the interest of the people in education is increasing as her government has taken various steps for development of education.
“We’re distributing free textbooks among the students from primary to secondary levels and providing scholarships and stipends among the students from primary to higher education,” she said.
Besides, she said, the government has made arrangements of training for the teachers, while their status has also been upgraded to give due honour to the architects of developing the children.
The prime minister said her government is also giving importance to science education. “The interest of the students in science education was less till 1996. But after coming to power in that year, we formulated a law to establish 12 science and technology universities in the country,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the work on setting up six such universities began during our 1996-2001 tenure and the work of remaining universities started when our government returned to power in 2009, she said.
The prime minister said after assuming office in 1996, her government reduced tax massively on computers. “That’s why the use of computers increased to a great extent in the country,” she said.
Referring to her government’s various plans to further advance the country, Sheikh Hasina said it has already began working to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the UN.
“Besides, a long term “Delta Plan 2100″ has also been formulated to establish riverine Bangladesh as the world’s most developed and prosperous country,” she said.
The premier extended her heartfelt congratulations to successful students and advised those who could not pass in the examinations to be more attentive to study to be succeed in future. She also thanked all concerned for holding of the examinations and publishing their results on time.
PM’s Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman conducted the function, while secretaries concerned of the Prime Minister’s Office, the Education Ministry and the Primary and Mass Education Ministry were present.
