Banking Diploma needs reshuffle

Any kind of professional degree turns the employees into intangible asset for the organizations which help to bring the organizations sustainability since accomplished manpower are considered as one of key driving forces behind the success of any financial institutions.

There is a proverb - fortune favors the brave. The employees in service arena who carry additional concerned degrees are considered as gallant workers. In light of beginning lines of the article there is no alternative way to go up in any service except achieving concerned professional degrees, no doubt.

Needless to say that erstwhile The Bangladesh Observer, a renowned english daily had been the maiden newspaper where I attached for long three years. Later, I got an engagement letter from proposed The Daily Sun, an english newspaper of the country. Soon after the graduation and post- graduation had been achieved with the prestigious economics discipline under university of Chittagong, I joined The Financial Express, the country's lone english financial daily as a staff Correspondent.

There is no shame to disclose here that in light of personal reason I began to think to turn my career into another profession and through facing a series of competitive tests I have been cordially offered to join a private commercial bank and subsequent having an offer letter describing admirable words on my scores comprising written test and viva-voce, I join the bank leaving years long writing career.

It is widely known that as job arena is known to have very competitive, I thought to pursue another globally famed post-graduate degree on business titled Master of Business Administration ( MBA) to keep pace with global requirement. I rushed to Jahangirnagar University situated in Bangladesh to take the degree and finally I was awarded the long- desired degree.

It is a matter of surprise that the colleagues working around my desk started to emphasis the need for completing a professional degree named "Banking Diploma". I tried my level best to make them understand that I have already achieved business degree covering necessary courses from a renowned university apart from having graduation and post-graduation degree on economics.

They refused me and strongly requested me to complete the degree as soon as possible. Otherwise, banking career will never see the light whatever I achieved earlier so far. Set up in 1973 the Institute of Bankers, Bangladesh (IBB), as a professional body of banks and financial institutions in Bangladesh started its operation with a introduction of a professional degree named Bank Diploma coupled with two parts - Junior Associate of the Institute of Bankers, Bangladesh (JAIBB) and Diplomaed Associate of the Institute of Bankers, Bangladesh (DAIBB) aiming to maximize professionals knowledge among bank employees in the country.

The conversation among colleagues has made me mad and replying their question that  that I have already covered the subjects while on MBA studying which now exist in diploma courses. According to enforcement from my co-workers I was able to complete four courses out of six in first part-JAIBB through very poor preparation. But, unfortunately, I did not overcome two subjects - Principles of Economics and Bangladesh Economy and  Accounting for Financial Services which already were taught duration my graduation and MBA period. I tried two times for these two courses but saw red marks. I do not know when the ability to overcome the rest red marked courses would be welcomed.

There is no denying that any professional degree is prerequisite for showing excellent performance in service life and also helps to gather required knowledge for smooth operation of concerned offices. But another scenario has made me mad while entering the exam hall for sit for the bank diploma examination. There seen no assigned seats for examinees apart from absence of minimum discipline which is comparable to retail market. To overcome the courses through a number of ill practice held in the exam rooms brings so-bit knowledge to the bankers except carrying additional scores for see the light in their career.

Moreover, it is widely known to all that disciplinary measures in all examinations of home and abroad is taken if found any wrongdoings by the examinees. Exemplary interrogation practice is rarely seen by the regulator at the examination centers where banking diploma test is held. So, transparency, and accountability are a must to build up knowledgeable professionals in financial world. Otherwise, the degree receivers doing black practice would be turned into lame duck in future.

It is also pointed out that assessment of answer scripts by the examiners should be put in due importance. Otherwise, those who prepare themselves well-equipped for this exam, see red marks after publishing the results resulting in get frustrated. I think to get fifty marks out of hundred marks with theoretical answer is tougher. So, bordering of pass marks may fix at 40 except mathematical courses.

Of late, the demand for amendment the question papers have been arisen from the concerned examinees working at financial institutions. Apart from short notes, Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ), fill in the gaps might be introduced in question paper lifting decades old theoretical method  since global professional degree is awarded with modification of question papers where MCQ , fill in the  gap, short notes are seen like Certified Documentary Credit Specialist ( CDCS) exam, a global degree on foreign trade.

If needed, IBBthrough consultation with financial experts, financial analysts, policymakers, think-tanks may take the decision to move for changing exam methods to keep pace with the global fashion. Assessment of answer scripts should be put in place among other discussions.

Expressing with shame that question papers leak has been the common phenomenon across the country. If any question papers on professional degree are consumed by the examinees just a week before commencing on the examination, the image of professional body deserves the discussions whether the body will play good or foul the days to come for earlier declared examination.

IBB might take the help of different prominent institutes regarding question papers ready. The two courses of 86th Bank Diploma has been declared postponed by regulator-IBB due to question papers leak which is a threat for bank industry.

Very sadly to say more or less 0.2 million people belonging to banking profession are awaiting to get global standard trainings from Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM ), a lone training provider institute in the country for more than fifty banks' employees though every bank has a training institute having modern facilities and library with necessary financial books. Is it good example for enhancing professional knowledge of bankers with the only assistance of BIBM being as a lone institute?

The deeply shocked saying, the state owned financial institutions still follow with a heavy emphasis this professional degree denying the academic prestigious subjects / majors with good academic record while the time comes for lift up the employees in service life. In graduation and post-graduation level a student has to complete more or less 40 courses. I think these courses carry a huge knowledge for the graduates to end their service life with showing excellent performance.

Summing up the above stated,  I want to highlight rational views that having professional degree is a must for every employees . We must take strong drive spontaneously to pursue this degree for the welfare of self-development vis-à-vis institutional progression.

But urgent amendment of courses, syllabi, method of question papers following need based with global standard, secrecy maintaining  of question papers, ensuring fair and fraud-free environment, minimization of exam fees, relaxation of exam timing, reducing pass marks, inclusion of demand- based courses to cope with globally modern banking practice are needed to make real professionals in banking world.

The writer is a banker based in Bangladesh.