A total of 154 primary schools across the country are ready for upgrading the primary level up to class VIII and 1000 more schools will be added in the next three years, said Primary and Mass Education Secretary Farid Ahmed on Tuesday.

“According to the education policy of 2010, primary education will be upgraded to the eighth grade. It will be implemented in phases. It is a matter of coordination with the Department of Secondary and Higher Education. And the Education Ministry plays an important role in policy making,” he said while speaking at a press briefing held at the Secretariat.

Referring to the recent decision of upgrading the primary school level up to class VIII, Farid said “We can start it in 5,000 schools out of 65,566 primary schools across the country and there are around 23,000 primary or secondary schools, which can be made free up to class VIII, to implement the government decision fully.”

To implement this, they have to undergo three challenges—infrastructures, teachers recruitment and their training, he added.

Replying to a question on when grade VIII primary will be fully implemented in all schools, Farid said “A number of issues are involved in it and already we have started our work to implement the decision of the government setting a target for three years.”

Besides, about 150 schools have students numbering 10-50 students. Considering the real situation, a decision will be taken to keep these schools integrated or running with the adjacent schools, the secretary said.

“Our target is to set up an elementary school in the catchment area. It's all over the world. We have already identified that around 150 schools have 10-50 students but we will not merge or close all schools in a hurry,” he added.

Already the ministry is working in this regard and necessary decisions will be taken after considering the reality.

Noting that ten new school buildings will be inaugurated in Dhaka in July, the secretary said about 81 percent new school buildings were built across the country and still 20 percent school buildings are in dilapidated condition.

In Dhaka, there are 342 government primary schools and 342 new buildings will be built in the next three years.

“Already over 200 master plans of new buildings were approved and the construction work of 50 buildings is underway and all the primary schools buildings in Dhaka will be turned into a beautiful school in the next three years,” he said.