Bangladesh brings English into religious schools

Posted 28 Sep 2009

English classes are to be introduced in religious schools in Bangladesh, alongside lessons on climate change and information technology.

The move was announced by the Bangladesh education officials on Sunday (September 27th) and will apply to some 16,000 state-sponsored madrassas.

M A Yusuf, head of the government’s Madrassa Education Board, told AFP that English would be taught besides traditional Koran and Arabic classes.

He said: "We are introducing English lessons for even the youngest students and making elementary knowledge on computers mandatory. We are also introducing teaching on climate change."

"This will boost students’ job prospects and allow them to study in top universities," he added.

Meanwhile, TEFL teachers working in nearby India may be interested in recent comments by the country’s chief minister Nitish Kumar regarding the importance of English.

Mr Kumar said in a speech in Patna to mark Hindi Day this month (September 14th) that promoting local languages was no reason to neglect English studies, the Times of India reports.

He explained: "Love for Hindi does not necessarily mean opposition to English. English cannot be ignored."

Category: TEFL Industry