THE Education Ministry is likely to introduce courses on ‘spoken English’ and ‘spoken Arabic’ mandatory at secondary level in order to improve students’ oratory skills as well as give them a better chance of competing in international job arenas. So far it appears like a beneficial endeavour on the part of the government, but whether it will actually bear fruit remains a difficult question.Statistics indicate that more than one crore school students are only tested for writing in English and Arabic at schools and Madrasas respectively around Bangladesh. Initiatives to include English and Arabic as a necessary learning tool during children’s schooling in the past has borne fruit, helping many to get good jobs in international companies or working in Multinational Companies (MNCs) in Bangladesh. According to local dailies, the government, after assessment, has reached the conclusion that the absence of English and Arabic spoken training in the national curriculum has contributed to the lack of fluency in the languages (despite both English and Arabic being compulsory for students throughout school years).According to the Education Ministry, general students from Class VI to X will face a spoken English test of at least 10 marks in the public exams and in-school exams (out of 200 marks) and Madrasa students will have to face 10 marks worth of spoken Arabic tests (out of 400). The government also plans to add listening tests as the spoken English and Arabic practice progresses.While the government should be appreciated for their initiatives, the practical application of the matter still remains vague. Education Secretary has already admitted that qualified teachers for both spoken English and Arabic are not sufficient. This is not a matter as this leaves a way for unqualified teachers hogging future posts either by corruption or simply because of the scarcity of qualified teachers, which would create further barriers to the students’ spoken abilities. Proper source materials and logistical support will be required for courses on spoken English and Arabic and according to statistics and reports it appears that the government will not be able to provide sufficient support in those matters as yet.While it is true that English and Arabic are very important languages when it comes to the global employment opportunity, if not taught properly by qualified teachers and through necessary source materials, they can cause more harm to potential leaders and employees than good. English should be seen as the most important foreign language. By neglecting English language our boys and girls are found in most cases, regrettably under-qualified to meet the challenges of modern days. Overall education is not helpful if our students cannot show through spoken English how well-educated they are.
