A huge chunk of Nepalese students tend to enroll themselves in bridge courses after the completion of their SEE and this is mainly due to the fact that all these students need to be prepared for the academic gap that awaits them when they transition into +2. The bridge course is basically a short-term, intensive course to help students get ready for the next stage of their academic pursuits and claims to give the skills and confidence to the learners so that they can undertake higher secondary education but, they do have their critics. They say that these courses can provide solutions for deeper educational gaps only for a very short period and act as a sort of band-aid. So, are bridge courses truly transformative, or are they just a quick solution to systemic issues in education? Let's take a closer look.
What Are Bridge Courses?
These are academic courses that help bridge the gap in knowledge and skills between two levels of academics. Within the Nepalese context, bridge courses are found to be especially popular among SEE graduates who wish to prepare for higher secondary levels. This course aims at firming the basic concepts, introducing new subjects, and also developing some key academic competencies like time management and critical thinking.
Why Are Bridge Courses Needed?
Looking into why bridge courses are considered to be so important and recommended by many, there are plenty of reasons to go through with, the main ones being:
The leap from the secondary curriculum to higher secondary or specialized courses is often too great. Bridge courses make this transition smooth as they give students a head start.
Many students feel underprepared for the challenges of higher education in subjects such as math, science, or language proficiency. Bridge courses address these gaps.
Students are likely to feel more confident and comfortably settle into a more challenging academic setting after completion of a bridge course.
The Argument: Are They Just a Band-Aid?
Opponents often claim that bridge courses treat symptoms of a much larger problem in education. Why? Because of the lack of holistic reform which fixes the symptom rather than actually targeting the cause which is an obsolete curriculum or the use of obsolete teaching methodologies. Another reason is that not everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the facility of quality bridge courses; hence, inequality comes at a price in academic preparedness for those who do not wish to or do not have the means to enroll in a bridge course. And sometimes, even though being very useful for immediate benefits, such a course might not enable a more permanent understanding of what is covered that would be valuable to make true, long-term success possible.
The Other Side: Why Bridge Courses Still Matter
Let us go ahead and discuss the aspects favoring bridge courses.
For students overwhelmed with the SEE result, the bridge courses act as a bridge, saving them from falling behind.
A well-structured program, such as Alfa Beta's Bridge Course, focuses on individual learning requirements and is far more effective than following a general curriculum.
The bridge course lays a platform for academic success in higher secondary and beyond by focusing on main subjects and skills.
Conclusion: A Necessary Step, Not the Final Answer
As we have mentioned before, the concept of bridge courses is far from perfect when put into implementation, but still, there are quite a few institutions that have great bridge courses like Alfa Beta which have been proven to be beneficial for students even in the long run. Even though they may not be the perfect solution to the academic gap faced by students when transitioning to +2, there isn't a better solution to help these students navigate through this. The problem created by such curriculum gaps is something that can be overcome by these courses and it's all the better to see them as more of a stepping stone than a band-aid. Institutions like Alfa Beta are leading the way, offering comprehensive bridge courses that not only prepare students for higher education but also inspire confidence and a love for learning.
