EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT IN BANGLADESH CADET COLLEGES SINCE 1990S: AN OVERVIEW Brigadier General Md Habib Ullah, SPP, ndc, afwc, psc Introduction Background History of Bangladesh Cadet Colleges may be traced back to the public school systems of England during 19th century (Rob 1884). \ by the Government of Pakistan to educate and train the military students in !"#$\ %& '* + ,-/ 03 "3 0 3 $335 "#6:"#;# 33!"#,+/<% $3%=>%? ,!"#/$>%\ ! +-,3 +3/ +P*-3Q%$ 33=>> 3 3S#3=% students of eastern part. Cadet Colleges are specialized autonomous residential institutions that impart an all-round liberal education to the young learners of the secondary 3= > ! > 3%3%3=I%3%%J?#+ K3:3%3%?:3%3%3>,0L"MM/ 3$N'3>%3 3 3$'%>&=$N'& 72 I>=MM&3,*%M/N; O%+0$N;M3$'3$MM$ %'MM=J\ ;MQ 3&3%MQ 3=>%3$ $%3+>0>3,+0/>$ 3=$%33$ or public universities are disappointing. This paper emphasizes on reforms $ K 3 %3%$#>$3333> 3 ?3 Aim of Cadet Colleges J%3=%%%$ 3>S= 3 #$ =$= Objectives of Cadet Colleges &3>3>==U # J>O%=%3%3= >%:33 pursue higher studies in different disciplines. # J>== >%33L3 # J 3= #$ # 3= for the all-round development of cadets through a package of co- 3%3%?:3%3%3> # J 3= =3 $ $ 3%% program and maintain a diet program ensuring a balanced physical and mental health. N Educational Environment in Bangladesh Cadet Colleges Since 1990s: An Overview # J % =$=$=$ O%=$ 3 % >$ 3%$333> # J>$?3%3> 3%3> # , \ /$ 3 33>%= # J %3 $ O% 3 3%3 3=>3:3%% SWOT Analysis 05LJ=3?3 might affect the educational environment and overall output of the cadet 3]&3>>$05LJ =K3U Figure 1:05LJ= Helpful Harmful Strength Weakness # 03%3 # `3# 3S # <3K pedagogy and educational %=$3 management. activities. # Laboratory facilities-back dated. Internal # 03%> # Lack of variation in personal # 0%3 L study setting (class room/ ]%33:33 teacher/class mates). hardship. # !?3%$% # Healthy and competitive complete syllabus; learning is environment. overlooked. # Caters for all round development. # Lack of initiative of the teachers. 74 Figure 1:05LJ= Threat # Vested interest groups may Opportunity cause emotional disorder of # "S3 adolescents may affect study impression of the cadet college and grooming. #> # <3%333 # Alumni associations inspire up if he falls back in initial %%S days. 3% # $03 =>% may affect mental stability and # !?=U`3$ learning. and organizational structure # Indiscriminate use of =? $$ !? &% 3,> L marginal cost. leave) may create distraction # 033>= and affect desired grooming 33 of the cadets. # 3 # Any breach of security institutions to add value. may have far reaching consequences and affect 3$3 parents. 0%3U% The main focus of cadet college education is achieved by a combination of 333$=3%3$3 %3<33%%S3 events are other factors that also contribute to the all-round development of the cadets. Academic Environment 33>%>>3:%$ $?$?33J3 %$$>% 3 3S?3J% 3>=NM:N# >0%:J3MU 75 Educational Environment in Bangladesh Cadet Colleges Since 1990s: An Overview Class Room J333#3R03S RS %J3,Q/3,Q/ scope and need for improvements of educational environment of cadet colleges. Books %#3=I%3J? +#,IJ+/!>3MMN">%=$+> #%-=$%&3>=?# ,=$ ?/ % = %= $ %$%#,+>/ Assessment (GPA Systems) 6 % J = %333 3%=&=% the Grade Point Average (GPA) system of assessing in different public ?J> %$3= 33>3>%%&3 Analysis L>>33%"= U # Poor Outcome: Poor performance in admission tests for higher % ,*3S!S>/ -=$ 3 =+*=3= 3%"0M to be terminated. A number of cadets cannot sit for the admission test +!J%%> # Reluctance:>3= =>>>3#M,3% positions in the combined merit list in the Board). ; # \ 6M;=M% ;3#% # +!J6>3600+>$ M;$'?3,/600+ %3%>%=,]$M/ # Voluntary Withdrawal: L % 3%$3 >%= 3 3 6 3 = *3 033 %&3 %%= > 033 % % > %= %$ 366MM;$ 3 366366 Quality of the Student L = % # 3 5 > 3:33 3 $ = % ]%3= %33L$= ::%=%33= on the coaching centres. Coaching centres train the students on certain #=333?J%3 3RS%RS%,+#$ M/ Games and Sports Recent re-introduction of various sporting competitions on inter cadet 3 >=S =$ 3% % =$ 3 ?% 3S 3 % %#= J%U # There are hardly any play grounds in the urban or even rural areas these days. 77 Educational Environment in Bangladesh Cadet Colleges Since 1990s: An Overview # *= 33 = scope to play outdoors. # 'MQ =R333S = # *= % 3%S> 3%%" risky and better to avoid. Swimming as a Life Skill <%M$?=M:'MQ 3# "=$>;Q#0 3O%=$I>=* 3=$=?3$ 33 >3 Psychological and Moral Training * 3 3 3 3O%##3=% $ 3 %3$ %?-3=$P!%Q %3=$>U Table 1: Ethos and Values in Cadet Colleges Ethos Values I am proud to be a Cadet Honour and Pride I abide by rules and regulation of the College Honesty and Integrity 6$3 Trust and Faith I shall be the best and brightest professional ] leader Communication 6%% =* 3!?33 Endeavour and Perseverance "0] Comradeship 0%3U% 78 %=P%Q=3 3 %=$3 J3> %=$ 3$ $ >3 333 strength to stand for the right. Leadership Training 6 3 3$ 3 > %= 3 O% J 3 "3$ S O% # 3$=$333$3O%=$3% 3 ,0L" MM/ 3,366/% M= Discipline 3 3 % 3 0L"<3 =3%3 ?33 behavior in public. The standing orders of the Cadet Colleges cover a %3:>3%=33K= 3$ %: 3 % character building. Cultural and Stage Competitions (CSC) 03S=?J ?3%3%3>>>:3 O%3J3> ?3#3= ?:= Present Challenges and Gray Areas Overview 6=3>%$ plug in the gaps and lacunae and focus on the gray zones. 79 Educational Environment in Bangladesh Cadet Colleges Since 1990s: An Overview Absence of Research and Development <3%33>3%3S3S &%SJ3S"%= =>%033 %==3%3%,0 %/3%%> 33 5%333 33>3,]M/ Teachers Teachers are the greatest assets of the cadet college systems. The relevance and importance of teachers in a boarding school environment has but 3% =3U Selection # 33O%36 3%?NM;$;% =;3#= %3##$? Government teachers held on the same day. # *=3+0S"0#3 > colleges. # *=$%=%600+%3> best of the lot. Training and Capacity Building # Training on teenage/child psychology may be arranged regularly. # Pedagogy and class room management is rarely emphasized. # +!$*!$"<O%3=33>3 Job Satisfaction # +=S3U 3= 33#= 'M # J33%3333 and respect of the cadets. # Teacher-student relationship remains a topic of concern inter-personal skill of the teachers need improvement. # Reduction of non-academic engagement. Career Building Opportunity # O%3>33 ,+0&>3S3/ # J3 :>$3#3 motivation. Language of Imparting Lesson 6>3%3%3 3%= 33#3!J 3 3 ? ! J %>= ;Q 3 Q Cadets agreed/ strongly agreed to this. Discipline and Implementation 633=3 %J%%%3 %3 and force. Too much of strictness might become counterproductive. For ?$>333$% very casually. This is perhaps due to harsh military discipline enforced on %3%,]M/ Budgetary Issues J#$3%$33$== and other components of educational environment have not seen changes mostly for budgetary constraints. The budget comes from the Grant in ,M/*= 3% 81 Educational Environment in Bangladesh Cadet Colleges Since 1990s: An Overview S+3* %3%>=% M>33#3 Principal and College Administration 0=P03$Q*%K,*%K M/%%3%%= of professionalism and not on humanitarian ground. Frequent change of the principal affects the continuity and impetus of college activities and > 3 3 M >:333 colleges. Vice Principals and Their Concerns 633"3,"/3>== J=&%O% J>% "3 3M=U Table 2: Number and Frequency of Change of Vice Principals 0 Cadet 1985-1995 :M M;:M; Average College Number of Number of Number <% VP VP & Average of VP of VP in & Average <%,=/ M <%,=/ years 1 FCC 4 2.5 4 2.5 8 1.25 2 RCC 5 2 4 2.25 ; ;; N CCR N NN 5 2 8 1.25 4 BCC 5 2 4 2.25 8 1.25 5 * N N 5 N 7 1.42 ; FGCC - - 9 1.1 7 JGCC - - 9 1.1 0%3U% 82 Governing Body and Adjutant General’s Branch >\ >= #>#L%=3% > Body can hardly give the cadet colleges needed focus and time. A number of %3%3% 0 303> <3 3,+/ 6%3%$ raising the capacity and number of cadet colleges also came in discussion. < 3=0>3&%3> 03 33% >O%%3$3% Malpractices and Under Currents J=3 = 3 >$ 3 33 > 3 3 3 3 3$ 3=%$3# addressed. In most of the cases parents and the teachers fail to unearth 0333U # 03&% # 0#&%$3 # Bringing food from the canteens. # Physically abusing. # ##%S3% the sleep and rest. # #3%&%%=>% # Requesting for household items on loan and never returning. # Clothing items/ shoes/ personal effects getting missed. # `=3>%S>S3 : doing. 'N Educational Environment in Bangladesh Cadet Colleges Since 1990s: An Overview Analysis, Findings and Way Forward Cadets’ Findings A recent seminar on the academic performances of the cadets in a college 3 % 3 #= % U Table 3: Cadets’ Finding 0 Problems 0% Remarks M Practical classes 0=3K = J3S33= are conducted practical classes must be ensured. in sequencing hurriedly before lessons questioned completing theoretical classes M %S Abridged hand notes on particular Teachers should do books for senior topic can be supplied. ?# classes MN J Teaching more lessons in class XI Planning of time class XI %>366 and study load need classroom. to be better M Lack of A team consisting recently passed Teachers and motivation and %?:33> ?:3S #% >333$ associations should career +!J$3 be doing this on a universities home and abroad. regular basis. M Cadets are "3%% separated #%3 may be blocked. from rapidly can be arranged developing IT M; Academic failure *>% %* &%3 from any corner should be ensured. to be more effective M Less time of "J=?3% *=3 preparation before ? M' Pressure of 0%%3? *=3 over schedule ,?3>3>=/ 84 Table 3: Cadets’ Finding M Providing A photocopy machine is highly Library should have 3S O%333 such reproduction/ notes on any documents on payment.