PM Hasina asks teachers, guardians not to pressurise students excessively

The prime minister on 17 March 2024. Photo: PID

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the country's teachers and guardians not to put too much academic pressure on students, but rather let them learn through sports and various cultural activities.

"Education is very important. Do not pressurise them in the name of education. We now want students to learn through sports and various cultural activities, so that they get the opportunity to develop their talents," she said while addressing as the chief guest an event organised to celebrate the 104th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Children's Day 2024.

This year's theme of the day is "Bangabandhu'r Swapna Dhore Anbo Hasi Sobar Ghore", which translates to "Smiles to be brought to all homes implementing Bangabandhu's dreams".

Sheikh Hasina said her government is developing the curriculum in such a way that the students can learn through diverse education.

"The children now can see the world in front of their eyes in Digital Bangladesh. So, they can learn not only by reading books but also by seeing things [for themselves] in class," she said.

The premier said, "Today's children will be the smart citizens of tomorrow's smart Bangladesh. And that is what we want."

She also urged the guardians to maintain a friendly relationship with their children to keep them away from terrorism, militancy, drugs and corruption.

"There should be a friendly relationship with parents. If so, they [children] cannot go astray. They must be given the lesson of honesty from their childhood to keep them away from terrorism, militancy, drugs and corruption," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the children should be engaged in extracurricular activities like sports, painting, songs, other cultural exercises and religious education alongside their academic activities.

"I would like to request guardians and teachers to pay attention so the children could be embodied with human virtues and get the scope to flourish their latent talents," she said.

With the initiative of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, the programme was arranged by the district administration of Gopalganj in Tungipara.

At the outset of the function, a documentary on "Bangabandhu and Child Rights" was screened.

The prime minister also distributed prizes among the winners of quiz, art, recitation, song and dance competitions organised by the Gopalganj district administration.

Some 104 brilliant students in Gopalganj district were given a grant of Tk5,20,000 on the occasion. Each student received Tk5,000. Two selected ones — Mushfika Jannati from Tungipara upazila and Arafat Sheikh from Kotalipara upazila — received the money from the prime minister.

In her speech, the prime minister also drew the attention of the parents, teachers and all concerned to give appropriate lessons to the children so that they can become aware of the traffic laws for their movement on the road.

"It is absolutely necessary to impart proper education about the traffic laws and roads so that they don't fall victim to any accidents," she added.

Besides, children should be taught to stay clean, she said, adding, "Autistic or special children should not be mistreated by anyone, and it should be taught from an early age so that they [children] look at them with sympathetic eyes."

She continued, saying children should also be taught the lesson not to waste anything.

The head of government also asked all concerned, especially parents and teachers, to teach children about the national days.

"They [children] should know that 21 February is Shaheed Dibash [Martyr's Day] and International Mother Language Day, 26 March is our Independence Day, and 16 December is our Victory Day," she said, adding, "Why would not they [children] know it? Why would they avoid it [if asked]? So, they have to be given this lesson properly."

She went on saying, "We are a victorious nation, how can we forget that we made this country independent by fighting a war."

The prime minister criticised the human rights bodies for exposing their double standard policy by not playing a proper role in the case of Israel's attack on Palestinian children in Gaza.

She said that now many are vocal on children's rights, children's education and human rights throughout the world. At the same time a double standard policy is effective, she added.

She questioned where the human rights bodies are today when bombs are hurled at the Palestinian children in Gaza, they are killed, the bomb attacks are carried out on hospitals and attacks are carried out on Palestinians.

"Where is their sense of humanity? It is my question. We do not want war, rather want peace," said Sheikh Hasina.

Mentioning that Bangladesh always stands beside the persecuted people, she said this is why the country had given shelter to the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals, Rohingyas, including children, on humanitarian grounds.

"I do not know why the consciousness of the world [leaders] is not shaken with such a situation of children and women in Gaza. It is my question," she added.