Table 1 English and English education in policy: A chronological summary
From: Language wars: English education policy and practice in Bangladesh
Education policies and commission reports | The position of English and English education |
|---|---|
1974 Bangladesh Education Commission | English given priority as foreign language, to be taught from Class 6 |
General emphasis on English language | |
1976 English Teaching Taskforce Commission | English to be taught either in Class 3 or Class 6, subject to availability of English teachers |
1988 Bangladesh National Education Commission | Grade 3 suggested as recommended starting point for English education |
Grade 6 suggested as uniform starting point for English education | |
1991 National Curriculum Committee | English education introduced in Class 3 |
English introduced as compulsory subject in Class 1 (1992) | |
2000 National Education Policy | English set as medium of instruction for kindergartens |
Curriculum and all text material used in kindergarten translated into English | |
Introduction of English as extra subject from Class 1 and 2 and as compulsory subject from Class 3 | |
Along with Bengali, English could be medium of instruction from the secondary level (Class 7) | |
Emphasis on English as medium of instruction at the tertiary level | |
2003 National Education Commission | Reemphasis on English learning from the primary level |
One objective of primary education to acquaint learners to English language skills as a foreign language | |
Emphasis on rebuilding overall English curriculum | |
Emphasis on organising foreign training for trainers of PTI and NAPE and local training for all secondary school teachers to improve English education | |
Emphasis on introducing a six-month English language course at the tertiary level | |
2010 National Education Policy | English recognised as essential tool to building knowledge-based society |
Emphasis on English writing and speaking from the very beginning of primary education | |
English to be set as compulsory subject adopted in all streams from the secondary level | |
English as medium of instruction could be introduced from the secondary level | |
Emphasis on appointing adequate number of English teachers at secondary level | |
English to be a compulsory subject in all colleges and universities | |
English (along with Bengali) to be the mediums of instruction at the tertiary level | |
Emphasis on the need to translate books written in English to Bengali |