Regulation of English medium schools
Esam Sohail, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
As an alumnus of Maple Leaf International School, I read with more than a passing interest the piece about English medium schools (DS, June 26). While I sympathise with the concern of the guardians regarding the issues surrounding our friendly rival BIT, I must confess that the cure they seek is probably worse than the disease. Asking the government to regulate such schools is an open invitation to bringing mediocrity to the last bastion of half-way decent pre-university education left in the country. The government's record in education is well illustrated from the classrooms of the humblest primary schools to the halls of Dhaka University. The proper avenue to address the issue of high tuition and alleged unethical behaviour by teachers is either through competition (and there are plenty of such schools in Dhaka) or through the courts. Given the opportunity, the politicians and the bureaucrats will only be more than happy to regulate these schools since their own kids attend institutions, untouched by the education ministry's mediocrity, in Nainital, Kodaikanal, and even London. This is indeed one of those occasions when one must be careful of what he or she wishes for.
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