Bengali Should Be Made Compulsory at A Level

Dear Sir,

Nearly four centuries ago, medieval poet Abdul Hakim lamented the indifference of some Bengalis towards their mother tongue. Sadly, the concern remains relevant today, particularly in the English-medium education system.

Although Bengali is taught in English-medium schools up to Grade 8 or O Level, it is not compulsory at A Level, equivalent to higher secondary education. This may gradually distance students from their language, literature, history and cultural identity. English proficiency is essential in today’s globalised world, but it should not come at the cost of neglecting Bengali.

Therefore, Bengali should be made compulsory, or at least given greater importance, at A Level. The Ministry of Education should work with examination boards such as Cambridge and Edexcel to develop an appropriate curriculum covering Bangladesh’s language, history and literature.

Schools should also promote Bengali debates, essay writing and reading circles. Learning English should help students understand the world, while learning Bengali should help them understand themselves.

Nusrat Jahan Arpita
Student, Department of Mass Communication and Journalism
Jagannath University, Dhaka