United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister’s Adviser on Education, Overseas Employment and ICT Mahdi Amin on Monday stressed the need for major reforms in the country’s education system to build a merit-based Bangladesh, saying the current structure still contains deep inequalities.Speaking at a discussion on education sector reforms based on election pledges, organised by the Citizens’ Platform in Gulshan, Mahdi said the admission system in schools should gradually return to an exam-based process instead of the current lottery system.“Many schools have said they do not like the lottery system. It is a black box,” Mahdi said, adding that policymakers have already discussed moving back to an exam-based admission process. BNP set to secure two-thirds majority, says Mahdi AminHe said efforts are underway to revise the education curriculum before January next year.“The curriculum has been politicised. We want to develop it in a modern way, redesigning where necessary,” he said, urging civil society to maintain pressure so the reform process remains free from political influence.Mahdi said the main objective of education should not be limited to obtaining certificates but should also focus on building capacity, technical skills and entrepreneurial ability. “We want an education system that enables young people to become entrepreneurs through self-employment and to qualify for jobs at home and abroad.”He also said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has emphasised expanding technical and vocational education. Under the proposed plan, technical and vocational elements would gradually be introduced from Class Six theoretically and from Class Eight with practical components, making at least one technical or vocational subject mandatory alongside science, arts or commerce streams.Mahdi said the government is also planning to introduce third-language learning in schools to enhance overseas employment opportunities. Countries including Japan, China, South Korea, Italy, France and Germany have shown interest in supporting the initiative, possibly by sending teachers or providing technical assistance through their embassies.Initially, specific foreign languages may be introduced in selected districts before integrating them across the national education system, he added.At the event, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj said the government plans to gradually introduce a midday meal programme in all schools across the country. “The programme will begin with government primary schools at the upazila level and will then be expanded step by step to cover all schools nationwide.”He also said the government is working towards introducing a single curriculum framework to ensure that students from Bangla, English and Ebtedayee streams achieve comparable competencies after completing 12 years of education.The state minister added that steps are being taken to incorporate culture and sports into the national curriculum, with work on the initiative expected to begin after June and implementation targeted within two to three years.Earlier in the discussion, a study presented by Towfiqul Islam Khan, Additional Director (Research) at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), warned that Bangladesh is falling behind in ensuring universal access to quality primary and secondary education despite progress in enrolment.The analysis showed that boys’ primary school enrolment fell from 98 percent in 2023 to 91 percent in 2024, marking the sharpest one-year decline on record.At the secondary level, girls increasingly outnumber boys, while the transition rate from primary to secondary education has also declined.According to the study, the share of students moving from primary completion to secondary school dropped from about 95 percent in 2010 to 84.2 percent in 2024.The transition rate from Grade 5 to Grade 6 fell sharply to 74.99 percent in 2022, meaning roughly one in four students did not continue to secondary education.The presentation also highlighted a rise in child labour, which increased from 6.8 percent in 2019 to 9.2 percent in 2025, suggesting that growing household economic pressure may be pushing many boys out of school.The study further warned that many students complete primary education without acquiring basic learning skills, making it difficult for them to succeed in secondary education.It called for a renewed education agenda focusing on stronger learning outcomes, skills development and better alignment between education and labour market demands.

The government has taken a decision to cancel the lottery system for admission from Class 1 to Class 9 in public and private schools across the country, said Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Monday. He made the announcement at a press briefing at the meeting room of the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education. “We have decided that from the next academic year, 2027, all admissions will be conducted through an entrance test. It will not be a complicated test. We are not going to make a Class 1 student a neurosurgeon. Students will be admitted through a simple test,” he said. Responding to concerns that the return of admission tests might fuel coaching businesses and influence peddling, the minister said, “There will be no scope for coaching. The test will be simple and everything will be conducted in a normal, fair manner. Parents have no reason to worry. I believe no education system should rely on lottery-based admission.”

Public spending on education in Bangladesh has fallen to about 1.7 % of GDP, far below global recommendations, raising concerns about the country’s future human capital development. The findings were presented by Towfiqul Islam Khan, Additional Director (Research) at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), at an event of the Citizens’ Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh titled ‘Education for Tomorrow in Light of the Election Manifesto: New Thinking, New Structure and New Initiatives.’ No question of relaxing qualifications for school managing committee heads: Education Minister According to the analysis, actual utilisation of education spending dropped further to around 1.3 percent of GDP in FY2025, which is significantly lower than the 4–6 percent benchmark recommended by UNESCO. Although government policy documents have long identified education as a national priority ambition regarding budget allocation has weakened over time, it said. The Sixth Five-Year Plan had set a target to raise education spending to 4 percent of GDP by 2015. However, later policy frameworks pushed that target further into the future, with the current Perspective Plan setting the 4 percent target for 2041. The study identified limited fiscal space and weak revenue mobilisation as major obstacles to increasing public investment in education. Bangladesh’s tax-to-GDP ratio stood at only 6.8 percent in FY2025, one of the lowest in the region which has constrained the government’s ability to increase spending on education. The analysis also found that development expenditure in the education sector has declined sharply in recent years while operating expenditure now dominates the budget structure. According to the study, strengthening the education system will require stronger domestic resource mobilisation, better spending efficiency and improved programme management. It recommended gradually increasing education spending to around 5 percent of GDP by 2031 through improved budget execution and enhanced resource mobilisation. The report warned that without significantly higher investment in education, Bangladesh may face difficulties in developing the skilled workforce needed for a rapidly changing labour market.

A member of parliament on Sunday raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the transfer of government primary school teachers, claiming that a significant number of teachers from outside the locality are being posted in his constituency in violation of existing rules. Taking the floor during the question-and-answer session, MP Dewan Mohammad Salauddin from Dhaka-19 said that according to the current policy, teachers working in government primary schools should primarily be posted within their local areas, particularly when vacancies arise due to retirement. He said the rules stipulate that when positions fall vacant, preference should be given to teachers who are residents of the respective area, have provided a local address during recruitment and are registered voters there. The policy also limits teachers transferred from outside the area to a maximum of 10 percent, he added. However, the lawmaker alleged that the rule is not being properly followed in his constituency. “I regret to inform that nearly 40 percent of teachers currently working in these institutions are from outside the locality. Whenever a vacancy occurs, teachers from other areas are being posted here,” he told parliament. He said the matter has been a long-standing problem and noted that in the past a writ petition had been filed with the High Court to halt such practices. Calling the issue a concern for local teachers and residents, the MP urged the government to take steps to ensure that the transfer policy is implemented properly so that local teachers get priority in postings when vacancies arise. Responding to the query, Education Minister for Primary and Mass Education A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon acknowledged the importance of the issue and thanked the MP for raising it. The minister said that in the past there was no provision allowing primary school teachers to be transferred outside their respective areas. Later, he said, the previous government introduced a computerised system for teacher transfers. Under the system, transfers are processed based on the instructions generated through the digital platform, he said. Milon explained that since Savar is part of greater Dhaka, many teachers from different parts of the country seek transfers there through the application system. “To address this issue, we need to incorporate some reservation mechanisms within the digital system,” he said. The minister added that the government is currently reviewing the matter and discussions have already begun on making adjustments to the computer programme so that a larger proportion of teachers posted in a locality come from that area, while allowing a limited number from outside. “We are examining how the allocation process can be modified to ensure that most of the teachers are from the respective locality, while maintaining a small portion from outside,” he told the House. The minister assured parliament that the government is considering necessary changes to the digital transfer system to make the process more balanced and responsive to local needs.    

Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Sunday said the government is reviewing the current primary school admission process and will decide on the system for 2027 after consulting stakeholders. The admission pressure is mainly seen in urban areas particularly in Dhaka while rural schools usually do not face such competition due to relatively lower student numbers, he said responding to a supplementary question in Parliament from MP Abul Hasnat Abdullah from Cumilla. “The lottery system was introduced earlier to address the admission pressure in city schools but I personally do not think it is a very logical system,” Milon told the House. He said the government will hold seminars and discussions with stakeholders including parents to build public opinion before finalising the admission system for January 2027. Hasnat Abdullah expressed concerns about the shift from merit-based admission to a lottery system at the primary level. He argued that the change has weakened the quality of feeder institution which ultimately affects the quality of students entering universities. The lawmaker also questioned whether an inclusive education system could be achieved while maintaining three parallel streams in the country—Bangla medium, English medium and madrasa education—which he said largely reflect economic disparities among families. In response, the Education Minister acknowledged that Bangladesh currently has multiple streams of education and integrating them is a complex process. He said the government has already formed a committee to bring English-medium schools under a regulatory framework aligned with national policies. The minister added that work has also begun to reform the Ebtedayee (primary madrasha) system and explore ways to incorporate the Qawmi education stream within a broader national education framework. “We are taking initiatives to gradually coordinate these different streams so that the education system becomes more unified in future,” he said.

The government is considering the recruitment of around 9,000 religion  teachers in primary schools as part of efforts to strengthen moral and religious education, Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon told Parliament on Sunday. The government has placed renewed emphasis on primary education and is preparing a number of reforms under a 180-day programme initiated by the government, he said responding to a question raised by MP Monirul Chowdhury from Cumilla. He said primary education received significant attention during the tenure of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and the current government is again prioritising the sector. The minister said  the government has already received directives to introduce major changes to the primary education system, with particular attention to strengthening moral values and religious awareness among students. However, he noted that there are some complications regarding the certification of teachers particularly those who have studied in Qawmi madrasha system. The subject of Qira’at (Qur’anic recitation) which many Qawmi graduates specialise in, does not formally exist in the mainstream madrasha curriculum, creating administrative complexities in recognising qualifications, he added. “The ministry is working to resolve these certification issues so that qualified candidates can be recruited as Islamic Studies teachers.” Milon also said religion education would not be limited to Islam alone. “We are moving forward by giving importance to the religious sentiments of followers of all faiths,” he said. Earlier, MP Monirul Chowdhury raised concerns about what he described as a deterioration in the education system over the past 15 to 17 years, despite improvements in school infrastructure. He said many primary schools now have good buildings but a shortage of students citing examples where the number of teachers exceeds that of pupils. The MP also urged the government to make moral education, Qur’anic education, the history of the Liberation War and the July uprising mandatory in the national curriculum to restore values among students.

Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Saturday said the government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy to prevent question leaks and cheating in the upcoming SSC and equivalent examinations. The minister said strict monitoring will be ensured at the field level to protect the sanctity of the examinations scheduled to begin on April 21. He made the remarks at a post-iftar meeting with members of the Education Reporters Association, Bangladesh (ERAB) at his official residence on Mintu Road in the capital. The minister said SSC examinations will begin simultaneously across the country from April 21. “Ensuring a cheating-free examination environment is a big challenge for me. We succeeded in the past and we will continue that trend this time as well,” he said. He warned that those who attempt to leak question papers using information technology will face strict action. “I will personally visit the field level to supervise the overall security of the examinations,” he added. Hinting at a plan to introduce a unified question system across the country instead of separate question papers, the minister said all students should face the same standard. “If major competitive exams around the world can be held with identical questions, it is also possible in our country. We are considering how this system can be introduced from next year,” he said. Describing the ministry as his “place of devotion”, the minister said he aims to create a foundation through a 180-day work plan that could have an impact equivalent to 180 years. He also said the government plans to introduce a three-tier screening process involving Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNO), deputy commissioners and education boards to ensure transparency and set educational qualifications for presidents of managing committees of educational institutions. Responding to debate over the requirement of 18 years of experience for appointments, the minister said the decision was taken to give opportunities to teachers who had been deprived due to political reasons over the past 15–17 years. He also identified the revision of the new national curriculum and textbooks for 2027 as one of his key priorities. Expressing dissatisfaction over the pace of work at the ministry, the minister said officials must move beyond traditional approaches and complete tasks quickly and efficiently. “Officials are here to work for the development of education, not to pursue personal interests,” he said. ERAB President Faruk Hossain, General Secretary Solaiman Salman, Vice President Shahed Matiur Rahman, Joint Secretary Asif Hasan Kajol, Treasurer Najiur Rahman Sohel and other members of the association and journalists from different media outlets were present at the event.

Education Minister A.N.M. Ehsanul Haque Milon on Friday clarified that under no circumstances will anyone with insufficient education or lacking interest in education be allowed to serve on the managing committees of educational institutions. He said the government is considering including only those who are educated and have contributed significantly to the development of education. The minister made the remarks at Kachua Upazila Parishad during a National Education Week event, after distributing prizes to competition winners and wheelchairs to persons with disabilities. Education Minister A.N.M. Ehsanul Haque Milon said that many education enthusiasts have made notable contributions to improving education, and the government is discussing how to include socially responsible individuals in school managing committees. He added that final decisions will be taken in consultation with parliament members and the Prime Minister. Addressing media questions, Milon dismissed reports suggesting that semi-educated individuals would be allowed on committees, calling them incomplete and misleading. Addressing journalists, the minister urged responsible reporting, emphasizing that statements should be presented in full context and reflect the complete truth. On SSC and equivalent exams, the minister said the government is preparing for the upcoming exams starting April 21 under the existing system, while planning to introduce new, practical, and modernized rules in the future. He also expressed his commitment to making Kachua a model area for education, which could then serve as a blueprint for the rest of the country.

Education Adviser ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon on Friday strictly instructed that students must not be made to stand on roadsides to greet ministers or guests. “Making students stand on roads to welcome ministers or guests is completely prohibited,” he said, adding that no teacher or educational institution will be allowed to arrange receptions by keeping students standing in the sun or beside roads in the future. The directive came while he was speaking as the chief guest at the prize-giving ceremony of National Education Week–2026 held in Kachua upazila of Chandpur. On his way to the programme venue, the minister noticed students standing along the roadside to welcome him and immediately expressed dissatisfaction over the matter. “There is no need to organise any reception that causes hardship for students,” he said. He added that he prefers to move around like an ordinary person and no student should be kept waiting on roads for his arrival. “If I see teachers or students standing on the roadside anywhere for this purpose, it will not be acceptable,” he said. Addressing teachers, he asked them to ensure students are given leave promptly and sent home. Speaking to students, he urged them not to stand on roads under the sun to greet him, saying he would instead visit schools to meet them. Later, the minister spoke with students and inquired about their studies and future plans. Among others present at the programme were Kachua Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mahmudul Hasan Russell, Kachua BNP President Khairul Abedin Swapan, Officer-in-Charge of Kachua Police Station Md Borhan Uddin, along with officials of different departments, teachers and local political leaders. Earlier in the day, the education minister also distributed cheques to registered private orphanages in the upazila and handed over cheques and wheelchairs to poor and needy people under a joint initiative of the upazila social welfare committee and the patient welfare association. Later in the afternoon, he joined an iftar gathering with leaders of the Kachua primary education and market traders’ association.

The administration of Jahangirnagar University (JU) has temporarily suspended a student for cyberbullying, using obscene language, and making threatening statements, officials said on Thursday. An investigation committee has also been formed to look into the matter. According to an office order signed by the Acting Registrar Dr ABM Azizur Rahman, Golam Rabbani, a student of the Department of Botany (50th batch, 2020–2021), has been suspended following a complaint by a female student of the English Department (2021–2022 batch). He will not be allowed to stay in any university residential hall during the suspension, under Section 4(1)(b) of JU’s Disciplinary Ordinance for Students-2018. The investigation committee is headed by Tamalika Sultana, Associate Professor of the Government and Politics Department, with Md Sohel Rana, Deputy Registrar of the Proctor’s Office, as member secretary. The committee has been asked to submit its report with recommendations within 15 working days. The complaint alleged that Rabbani responded to the female student’s comments on a Facebook post about JU with indecent, vulgar, and threatening language, leaving her humiliated and mentally distressed. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Chhatra Union and Jahangirnagar University Sangsad, have demanded strict punishment for Rabbani, calling the incident a case of cyberbullying and online harassment.