The standard of country's primary education has deteriorated, said the experts at a discussion yesterday.

They attributed over crowded classrooms, lack of proper supervision and poor teaching method as the main causes of deterioration.

The discussion was organised by the primary and mass education ministry to mark the completion of two years of the alliance government led by BNP at the LGED Bhaban at Agargaon in the city. Prof Jahanara Begum, prime minster's advisor on primary and mass education, presided over the discussion.

Taking part in it, former vicechancellor of Dhaka University Prof Moniruzzaman Miah said only 25 per cent students of class five appear at the primary scholarship examinations of which only 44 per cent come out successfully.

"This is sheer wastage of time, energy and money," he added.

Moniruzzaman Miah, who is also the chairman of Education Reform Commission,

Former vice-chancellor of Jahangirnagar University Prof Kazi Saleh Ahmed said many primary students cannot not attain the desired level of knowledge after completing their five-years of schooling.

Prof Jahanara Begum said the government has attached highest priority to primary and mass education. A separate ministry has been created to eradicating illiteracy from the country, she added.

The advisor blamed the teachers for their lack of commitments. She said no programme would be effective if the teachers are not committed to their profession.

Earlier, Prof Dr Tahmina Hossain, secretary of the primary and mass education ministry, presented a paper on the achievement of the alliance government in this sector during the last two years.

The secretary said under the Primary Education Development Programme-2, taken at an estimated cost of Tk 4,933 crore, the government will appoint 35,000 teachers, 1,000 assistant education officers, 128 computer operators, 216 PTI instructors, and 397 assistant district education officers.

Tahmina Hossain said under the programme, the government will also build 30,000 new class rooms, 15,000 latrines for women teachers, 8 lakh pairs of high and low benches and distribute 37.26 crore books free of cost among the children.

Former chairman of Public Service Commission Al Hossaini also took part in the discussion.