'Govt prioritising music and dance over religious education, risking moral decline'

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar has called for cancellation of the recruitment of music and dance teachers at government primary schools, calling instead for the appointment of religious teachers to strengthen students' moral values.

In a statement issued today, Porwar said government primary schools lack specialist teachers for Islamic and moral education, leaving students deprived despite having a syllabus in place.

"This has led to a decline in social and moral values. Intolerance is growing among students, and they are becoming detached from their religious and cultural history and heritage," he said.

Porwar argued that appointing music and dance teachers would worsen the situation.

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"It is in no way acceptable to appoint music and dance teachers instead of religious teachers. Music or dance cannot be an essential subject for students. If a family is particularly interested, they can arrange private teaching. But religion is vital for followers of all faiths," he said.

He urged the government and the education adviser to immediately ensure the recruitment of religious teachers in every primary school.

"What is needed now is to build students as ideal and enlightened individuals in light of moral and religious values. But instead of doing so, the government is encouraging students towards moral degradation and creating an immoral society," Porwar added.

According to him, demands for religious teachers have been raised repeatedly, but no steps were taken.

"Rather, initiatives have been taken to appoint teachers to teach dance, music, and instruments, which we consider regrettable and irrational," he said.

He also stressed that religious education is essential not only for Muslims but also for children of all faiths in Bangladesh.

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"But in this recruitment plan, the government has sidelined religious education and given importance to music and dance, which experts believe will produce morally degraded and people of low character in the future," he said.