Questions raised about quality

DHAKA: Out of 365 days in a year, International School Dhaka (ISD) remains closed for 182 days, while a grade-12 student has to spend more than Taka 2 million annually.

The guardians of the school students complained that they are not getting expected results though lakhs are being spent.

They pointed out that the school authorities give a lot of commitment at the time of admission, but they are not working in line afterwards.

Though money is spent here enormously in the name of various fees, the students are not being reared up as per international standard rather losing their own cultural tradition.

The school is not following the international standard of International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO)’s teaching code which they are supposed to follow. The school loaded with foreign teachers has made the local teachers victims of deprivation.

The guardians after admitting their ward spending millions of money have become frustrated due to irregular closure of schools along with money extortion in the name of fees on different excuses.

Furthermor,e there are allegations that the tender-hearted children are being kept away from their own culture as the school is apathetic towards our state language ‘Bangla’

According to National Education Policy-2009, it is mandatory for English Medium School to teach Bengali language and Bangladesh Studies but the school is not obeying the instruction. The guardians alleged that the Bangladeshi learners are not taught Bengali language.

A guardian of a student reading in grade-6 informed that a few selective poems and stories are taught in the class and added that instead of Bangladesh Studies several foreign books are taught in many classes.  

For instance, the grade-5 students are taught the geography of America. Besides, the guardians alleged that there is no religious education.

From next 26th August, the classes of 2012-2013 will begin. Distribution of admission forms will begin from 7th August.

A source informed that students of grade-11 and grade-12 of ‘A’ level are to spent Taka 17.50 lakh as class fee annually. Moreover, ‘A’ level students are to spend few lakhs money for examination and coaching fee purposes. Overall a guardian spends more than Taka 20 lakhs for a student of ‘A’ level.

In each class of grade-9 and grade-10 a sum of Taka 16 lakh 12 thousand 450 are to spend. Besides, the guardians spend few more lakhs for a ‘O’ level student.

The average annual cost of studying in grade-6, grade-7 and grade-8 is Taka 15 lakhs 15 thousand 550.

The annual expenditure of grade-3, grade-4 and grade-5 students per head is Taka 13 lakh 13 thousand & 250 while their school fees amounts to Taka 9 lakhs 4 thousand & 400.

In KG, grade-1 and grade-2 a child is to spent Taka 12 lakhs 7 thousand &400 while the school fees stand at Taka 8 lakhs 28 thousand & 750 while the admission fee is Taka 2 lakhs 55 thousand.

The price of admission form of Play-group, Nursery and Pre-kindergarten is 50 U.S.dollar which is Taka 4 thousand 250.

A child seeking admission in Pre-KG class is to pay school fee Taka 4 lakhs 100 plus Taka 61 thousand 200 as tiffin fee which is higher than fees of a Nursery student.

Nursery class meant for a three year old child is to pay Taka 4 thousand 250 for admission form while his/her annual expenditure stands at Taka 35 thousand 700 for completing the course.

His/her school fees amounts to Taka 3 lakhs 40 thousand 850, snacks spending Taka 14 thousand 450. So over all expenditure for a nursery student stands at Taka 3 lakh 95 thousand 250.

A two year child admitted in Play- Group is to pay Taka 1 lakh 18 thousand annually.

Guardians complained, the school authority is not only satisfied with this huge sum of money, they realizes more lakhs of money every now and then in the name functions, sports and clubs.

After exploiting the guardians by realizing huge sum the ISD is not keeping their promises. Though the authority promised for regular classes and preparing the school task in the classes, the school remains closed for about 200 days annually.

Investigations reveal that the academic calendar prepared for 2012-13 session has kept the provision of 182 days holiday.

It includes weekly holidays (Friday& Saturday) for 71 days, official holidays 10 days and the remaining days are of school discretion holidays.

The school remains open for five days only in the months of July and August which tends to extra coaching for the students.

If a student takes late admission in a semester he/she is to pay a fat amount while the source further informed that few thousands of money is extorted as late attendance in classes every day.

The guardians complained that other facilities promised are not implemented.

After physically going through the school library it appeared that it does not have more than ten thousand books though it was told that it contains twenty five thousand books. Mostly the necessary books are not available in the library, alleged the guardians.

Though huge sums are taken for the club activities it is not that much colorful.

In response to the innumerable allegations the Admission Officer of the school Sharmin Farooque told Banglanews that the schools follows foreign curriculum so the classes begin after two months vacation in July and August. The classes will begin on August 26.

When asked about excess tution fees she told that those who are rich only they get their wards admitted here.

Government is yet to formulate any policy guideline about these types of schools, but if there is any complain from the guardians then the matter will be looked into, Director General of Secondary and Higher Secondary education Professor Noman–ur- Rashid told.

He told Banglanews that it has been explicitly spelled in the Education policy of the present government that the English medium schools in the country must teach Bangladesh Studies and Bengali language.

These schools will be brought within the fold of the government phase -wise after inclusion of it in the Education policy, informed Professor Noman-ur-Rashid.

BDST: 1749 HRS, JUL 10, 2012
Shahjahan/