The government aims to rebuild Bangladesh’s education system on the principles of values, modernity and inclusiveness, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Education, Primary and Mass Education Mahdi Amin said on Thursday.
He made the remarks while addressing the Global Partnership for Education System Transformation Grant and Multiplier Grant for Bangladesh programme, organised by UNESCO at Hotel InterContinental in the capital.
Mahdi said the government’s vision for education reform had been clearly outlined in its election manifesto. As part of the reforms, technical and vocational education would be made compulsory from Class VI, while new subjects and third-language instruction would be introduced in phases.
He also said there were plans to make culture and sports compulsory from Class IV. The education system would be guided by the principle of “learning with happiness”, allowing students to learn in a collaborative environment rather than through excessive academic pressure.
Mahdi said the government would expand the use of technology to make education more effective and reduce disparities. Priority would be given to implementing the “One Teacher, One Tab” initiative, multimedia classrooms, a nationwide standardised school uniform, school bags and shoes, as well as the expansion of the school midday meal programme.
He added that improving teachers’ skills remained one of the government’s top priorities. Efforts would focus on strengthening training, professional development and alignment with international standards of teacher education.
Welcoming the announcement of a US$48 million grant to support the new government’s education reform programme, Mahdi said the funding would be used effectively to implement the necessary reforms across the education sector.
Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj, Secondary and Higher Education Division Secretary Abdul Khaleque, and representatives of the Ministry of Education and UNESCO were present at the event.
