Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday asked UNESCO to declare remote learning and online education as a global public good as these are creating a new divide. “I also call upon UNESCO to work as a matter of priority with Governments, private sectors and other stakeholders to rally partnership and resources to make this happen,” she said while delivering her speech at the 41st General Conference of UNESCO held at its Headquarters here. The Prime Minister said the pandemic has undermined the hard-earned achievements while it has revealed a major fault line in the education system. According to UNESCO, close to half of the world's students are affected by partial or full school closures, she said. “Online education evolved as a “new normal” during the pandemic. Yet, it also exposed a new divide,” she added. In this connection, Sheikh Hasina said the advanced countries could swiftly move to online platforms. But the developing countries and LDCs were pushed further behind due to lack of resources and technologies. “This has jeopardized our decades of gains in school enrollment, literacy rate and learning of youth and adults,” she observed. While digitisation has enhanced better services and free flow of information, all are worried by the misuse of digital tools and platforms for spreading harmful contents and hate speech, she said. “This has a significant negative impact on the peace and stability of the society. World bodies like UNESCO should work for addressing this issue,” said the PM. Read: Hasina invites French entrepreneurs to invest in Bangladesh Talking about climate change, she said this is a life-threatening reality not only for Bangladesh but also for many other countries of the world.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam has said it is time to allow young generation dream big and address any skill gaps in their career path through training in communication, cooperation and leadership. Support and cooperation from all the stakeholders including private sectors, NGOs, development partners in the forms of knowledge, skills and technology as well as investment are needed in the employment generation and skill development of youth to utilise their full potential, he said. Read:Ambassador Muhith takes over chairmanship of Asia-Pacific Group in Vienna The State Minister made the remarks while addressing a policy dialogue virtually titled “Skill Development of Youth for Better Employment Opportunity” as the chief guest. Syeda Saima Ahmed, Councillor, Ilford Town, London Borough of Redbridge and Tasmiah Rahman, Head of Strategy & Business Development, BRAC took part as the panelists at the event held on Saturday evening. The dialogue was chaired by Tasnuva Ahmed, President, JCI Dhaka Independent and moderated by its Director Mahfuz Mishu. Junior Chamber International, commonly referred to as JCI, is a non-profit international non-governmental organization of young people aged 18 to 40 years who are engaged and committed to creating impact in their communities. The State Minister said the government of Bangladesh has already taken numerous initiatives to ensure maximum utilisation of youth potential through promoting their empowerment, morality, humanity and commitment to uphold the responsibilities and glory of Bangladesh. He said there are certain challenges that they need to address together. "We need to ensure full employment and decent work for all men and women including the youths by 2030," said the State Minister. He said global standard education and skill development are twin key factors to this endeavour. Read:EU delegation launches Climate Adaptation Campaign

The European Union (EU) has provided EUR 42 million or Tk 423 crore to the government of Bangladesh to support key national reforms in the education sector.  With this grant, the EU recognises and supports the government’s commitment to the development of human capital, the eradication of poverty and inequalities, along with its commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, said the EU Embassy in Dhaka.  This is the second disbursement under the EU sector budget support ‘Human Capital Development Programme 2021’, which focuses on strengthening the education and skills sector of Bangladesh with specific focus on primary, as well as technical and vocational education and training.  Also read: EU launches TEI GET in Bangladesh to invest in renewable energy In line with the National Education Policy and National Skills Development Policy, the EU support aims to contribute to government of Bangladesh’s own reform agenda and institutional capacity towards a comprehensive education and skills development approach.  "Education is fundamental for the economic growth of a country and remains at the core of the EU's development cooperation. Reaping the maximum benefit of Bangladesh’s demographic dividend will largely depend on an inclusive and equitable quality Primary Education and Technical and Vocational Education system designed to cater to the future job market and employment generation,” said EU Ambassador Rensje Teerink. She said the EU is, however, concerned about the continued school closure as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.  "Once the pandemic situation allows it and when effective precautionary measures can be taken, the reopening of schools must proceed as soon as possible, in particular because access to alternative distant schooling solutions remains a challenge for a large number of students, especially the marginalized ones,” she added.  Also read: Germany to provide EUR 339.54 to Bangladesh under two deals The support programme to education reforms intends to provide a total of EUR 217 million as budget support linked to jointly-agreed performance indicators.  The programme addresses core elements of system strengthening and policy development.  Technical assistance is also available to support the cluster of institutions responsible to coordinate and deliver education reforms. The disbursement of this second payment comes after a positive decision of the Budget Support Steering Committee of the European Commission's Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development in May 2021.

The world is facing an unprecedented crisis with the Covid-19 pandemic. Day after day all the failures in our economic and social system and thinking process are being revealed.

The Covid pandemic has caused the largest disruption of the education system in history, affecting almost 80% of the students across 150 countries, experts have said, calling for better digital infrastructure for the seamless success of e-learning initiatives in emerging economies like Bangladesh.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Parliament GM Quader on Thursday urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to take steps for nationalising the entire education system, including the secondary and higher secondary ones, on the birth centenary of Bangabandhu.

Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Tuesday feared that the auto-promotion in the education system can make the future of students uncertain.

Speakers at a discussion in the capital on Saturday opposed the government’s decision of giving students auto-promotion without holding HSC and other examinations, saying it is part of a ploy to destroy the country’s education system and the nation.

The U.S. Navy is overhauling its approach to education because the nation no longer has a massive economic and technological edge over potential adversaries, according to a strategy it is releasing Monday.