Cambridge International Examinations in Bangladesh
‘We do not make profit’
In an interview with Manas Saikia, the managing director and head of SAARC countries for Cambridge University Press, Faizul Khan Tanim learns that Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) is here not only to popularise its curriculum with affordable fee structure but also fight piracy concerning English medium text books
photo by Andrew Biraj
photo by Andrew Biraj
That the English medium education still remains out of reach for many has come to the attention of the Cambridge University Press officials during their venture in to the country with their curriculum for mainstream English medium schools. During his recent visit, Manas Saikia also declared Cambridge’s association with the bookstore Words ’n Pages to ensure availability of text books of Cambridge’s syllabus in the country. CIE right now has 1.5 million students registered in 150 countries and almost 4.5 to 5 lakh students are enrolled from the SAARC countries. Schools like Scholastica, Oxford International and many have affirmed to totally change their teaching system from Ed Excel to CIE.
New Age (NA): Why do you think Ed Excel’s curriculum, the examinations that most English medium school students appear for, is so popular in the schools in Bangladesh?
Manas Saikia (MS): Bangladesh is definitely Ed Excel’s biggest market and it basically came as a continuation of the University of London curriculum and I think it is because of the historical influence that Ed Excel is more popular. The University of London’s curriculum came to this country first.
NA: What are your plans to make the CIE system popular here?
MS: CIE is owned by Cambridge University directly and as it is a charitable organisation, we do not make profit. Our mission is to enhance knowledge and research and therefore the cost of both examinations and books will be less than Ed Excel.
NA: By our local standards, English medium education and its examination services remain out of reach for many. Will CIE do something to make it more affordable?
MS: Well, I won’t be able to comment on this subject. However, there are two types of affiliation mainly, a direct membership with the university board which only Chittagong Grammar School (CGS) has and the other membership type is through British Council and perhaps the expenses depend on the type of affiliation.
NA: On many occasions, local experts and guardians express concern over Bangladeshi children learning more of European material than their own culture through the syllabuses. Does CIE system have any plans to incorporate subjects like History, Geography and English Literature with local and regional content?
MS: The international curriculum is always decided by the board and since it is an international syllabus, the board tries to maintain uniformity throughout the world. However, we already have 150 books published in India, keeping in mind the requirements of South Asia and moreover we have a good number of reference books on South Asian contents distributed in this region. We are already successfully running the subject Bangladesh Studies for the international curriculum in Bangladesh.
NA: A huge gulf persists between the curriculum studied by students of the Bangladeshi education system and those of the foreign education systems. Do you think this will negatively affect the country and its future generations?
MS: Not at all. It is high time that Bangladesh recognise the worldwide acceptance of board education exams and certificates. And this is the era of globalisation and English language proficiency is no longer an option. If a country wants to have economic development, English language is a must in order to be part of the global community.
NA: Considering the assessment system, what is the difference between the system in the UK and that of South Asia? For example in the O/A level examinations in the UK, a portion of the marks comes from outdoor activities, school scores – there is a marks sharing system with the final exam. Can we have a similar system here where student would not only be judged sitting on a single day exam?
MS: I know that the judgment system is different but not all the schools around the world availing our curriculum have the same standard. Setting assignments and coursework system under the international syllabus could be one of the solutions but that would incur a huge courier service cost and extra time for checking scripts. Since we are trying to make this curriculum more affordable, a lot of things are coming in to consideration.
NA: Quite often, English medium teachers here use the conventional local system of making the students only memorise few of the contents instead of proper tutoring. Does Cambridge have any plan to train teachers on their teaching methods?
MS: The CIE system is totally different. There are lot of support materials and tools for teachers to be competent as we are very particular about our standard and reputation. There will be a teachers’ training programme in Dhaka from the coming week starting on September 17 and six trainers have been flown here to conduct the training programme.
NA: Did you have any specific agenda for visiting Bangladesh?
MS: Cambridge International Education is here not only to popularise its curriculum with affordable fee structure but also fight piracy concerning English medium text books. Our idea is to increase the availability of text books from Cambridge University Press and we will do that in two ways: by importing international text books and making them available at special prices, even cheaper than India. Secondly, we will bring plenty of reference books but those will be a little bit pricey. We will also venture into fighting piracy here.
NA: How do you intend to fight piracy here?
MS: There was piracy problem in India as well. We took rigorous court action and raids against absconders and book pirates. The law enforcement department helped us greatly to bring piracy to minimum. We issued a letter dated August 20, addressing to the education advisor Ayub Qadri on behalf of the UK publishers Association, to help fight piracy here.
Manas Saikia (MS): Bangladesh is definitely Ed Excel’s biggest market and it basically came as a continuation of the University of London curriculum and I think it is because of the historical influence that Ed Excel is more popular. The University of London’s curriculum came to this country first.
NA: What are your plans to make the CIE system popular here?
MS: CIE is owned by Cambridge University directly and as it is a charitable organisation, we do not make profit. Our mission is to enhance knowledge and research and therefore the cost of both examinations and books will be less than Ed Excel.
NA: By our local standards, English medium education and its examination services remain out of reach for many. Will CIE do something to make it more affordable?
MS: Well, I won’t be able to comment on this subject. However, there are two types of affiliation mainly, a direct membership with the university board which only Chittagong Grammar School (CGS) has and the other membership type is through British Council and perhaps the expenses depend on the type of affiliation.
NA: On many occasions, local experts and guardians express concern over Bangladeshi children learning more of European material than their own culture through the syllabuses. Does CIE system have any plans to incorporate subjects like History, Geography and English Literature with local and regional content?
MS: The international curriculum is always decided by the board and since it is an international syllabus, the board tries to maintain uniformity throughout the world. However, we already have 150 books published in India, keeping in mind the requirements of South Asia and moreover we have a good number of reference books on South Asian contents distributed in this region. We are already successfully running the subject Bangladesh Studies for the international curriculum in Bangladesh.
NA: A huge gulf persists between the curriculum studied by students of the Bangladeshi education system and those of the foreign education systems. Do you think this will negatively affect the country and its future generations?
MS: Not at all. It is high time that Bangladesh recognise the worldwide acceptance of board education exams and certificates. And this is the era of globalisation and English language proficiency is no longer an option. If a country wants to have economic development, English language is a must in order to be part of the global community.
NA: Considering the assessment system, what is the difference between the system in the UK and that of South Asia? For example in the O/A level examinations in the UK, a portion of the marks comes from outdoor activities, school scores – there is a marks sharing system with the final exam. Can we have a similar system here where student would not only be judged sitting on a single day exam?
MS: I know that the judgment system is different but not all the schools around the world availing our curriculum have the same standard. Setting assignments and coursework system under the international syllabus could be one of the solutions but that would incur a huge courier service cost and extra time for checking scripts. Since we are trying to make this curriculum more affordable, a lot of things are coming in to consideration.
NA: Quite often, English medium teachers here use the conventional local system of making the students only memorise few of the contents instead of proper tutoring. Does Cambridge have any plan to train teachers on their teaching methods?
MS: The CIE system is totally different. There are lot of support materials and tools for teachers to be competent as we are very particular about our standard and reputation. There will be a teachers’ training programme in Dhaka from the coming week starting on September 17 and six trainers have been flown here to conduct the training programme.
NA: Did you have any specific agenda for visiting Bangladesh?
MS: Cambridge International Education is here not only to popularise its curriculum with affordable fee structure but also fight piracy concerning English medium text books. Our idea is to increase the availability of text books from Cambridge University Press and we will do that in two ways: by importing international text books and making them available at special prices, even cheaper than India. Secondly, we will bring plenty of reference books but those will be a little bit pricey. We will also venture into fighting piracy here.
NA: How do you intend to fight piracy here?
MS: There was piracy problem in India as well. We took rigorous court action and raids against absconders and book pirates. The law enforcement department helped us greatly to bring piracy to minimum. We issued a letter dated August 20, addressing to the education advisor Ayub Qadri on behalf of the UK publishers Association, to help fight piracy here.
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