Over 86 percent of students at secondary level have private tutors because their parents think education provided by high schools or madrasas is not enough for their preparation, said Education Watch Report 2007.

The students on an average get suppons from their private tutors for 5.7 months and spendTk2775, it added.

The report titled The State of Secondary Education: Quality and Equity Challenges' was launched at LG ED auditori urn in the d tyyesterday.

Campaign for Popular Education (Campe) organised the launching programme which was attended by Education Adviser Dr Hossain ZUlur Rahman as chief guest.

The adviser said the government is now giving more attention to improve thequalityofeducation.

“Few years ago our first challenge vyaS to increase. enrdUjneht jn the schools.' but today. ensfirfhg quality education for all is the first challenge,” he added.

The report said 7.3 percent of secondary passed students did not enroll in any educational institution for further study while 18.4 percent did enroll but could not complete higher secondary education. Schools run by the government are mostly in urban areas and are better equipped in respect of staffs and facilities, it added.

According to the report, there is a huge difference between the general and madrasa educations in termsofwhat is taught.

"The secondary-level madrasa education is conducted on the basis of a poorly constructed curriculum in the context of the current competency needs for the young genera-

tion,” it mentioned.

The report said socio-economic barriers like marriage and poverty pull girl students away from further education and job market.

Kazi Fazlur Rahman, chairperson of Education Watch, presided over the launching programme where Badrul Alam Tarafdar, secretary- in- charge of primary and mass education ministry, and Samir Ranjan Nath, a researcher of Education Watch, were present.