United News of Bangladesh

Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Wednesday told Parliament that 2,839 villages across the country still do not have any primary school. “No, not every village in the country has a primary school. The number of villages without primary school is 2,839 throughout the country,” he said while replying to a tabled question from treasury bench lawmaker Joynal Abdin (Feni-2). The Minister said the number of villages without primary school is 717 in Dhaka Division, 818 in Chattogram Division, 355 in Rajshahi Division, 37 in Rangpur Division, 341 in Khulna Division, 45 in Barishal Division, 260 in Sylhet Division and 266 in Mymensingh Division. He said the government would take steps to establish schools in these villages if proposals are received, considering all necessary conditions. In reply to another tabled question from opposition (Jamaat) lawmaker Gazi Enamul Haque (Jashore-5), the education minister said there are 24,320 educational institutions under the Secondary and Higher Education Division throughout the country. Of these, the number of institutions without  building (structures) constructed with government finance is 4,059. But the government has been implementing the infrastructural development in the unprivileged educational institutions gradually, he said. Ehsanul Hoque said a decision was taken to construct Bhaban (structure) in one school, one collage and one non-government Madrasha or non-government technical educational institution in every constituency in the current fiscal year. Responding to a scripted question from ruling party lawmaker Md Salim Bhuiyan (Cumilla-2), the education minister said the total number of educational institutes that are not listed under the Monthly Pay Order (Non-MPO schools) is 6,179 in the country. Of these, 3,798 non-MPO institutions –2,712 schools, 223 schools and colleges and 863 colleges—are under the Secondary and Higher Education Division. The remaining 2,381 ones – 1,092 Madrasas and 1,289 technical institutions—are under the Technical and Madrasa Division, he said. Ehsanul Hoque said the government has been taking steps to gradually include non-MPO educational institutions in the education sector in order to spread quality education and ensure financial security for teachers and employees. In this regard, the decision to include institutions in the list of MPO is taken in the context of receiving applications, verification and selection as per the policies, and the necessary financial resources, he said. Govt is positive about non-MPO institutions: Ehsanul Hoque In reply to another scripted question from opposition (Jamaat) lawmaker Md Amir Hamza (Khustia-3), the Education Minister said the government is positive to include the non-MPO educational institutions in the list of MPO. He said the process to bring non-MPO educational institutions under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) system in phases to expand education and improve quality at the secondary and higher secondary levels across the country. Through this process, eligible and necessary institutions are being brought under the purview of government financial assistance, so that the stability in the education system, including the payment of teachers' salaries and allowances, can be ensured, he added. "The government is positive about the fresh inclusion of non-MPO schools and colleges in the MPO. However, the institutions are selected subject to proper compliance with the specific policies and conditions for MPO inclusion - such as number of students, results, infrastructure, number of teachers, geographical requirements," he said. Ehsanul Hoque said that necessary measures will be taken to gradually include non-MPO educational institutions that meet all the conditions, subject to the government's policy decision.

Since 2009, every Education Minister in Bangladesh has issued orders to shut down coaching centres. The count of those orders exceeds ten. The count of coaching centres permanently closed as a result is zero. The Education Act that could provide a legal basis for enforcement has been in draft for fifteen years. This article traces that record, corrects a widely circulated factual error, and identifies the structural reasons the policy has never worked. The Chronology

The government will finalise a plan on how educational institutions will operate with reduced electricity consumption amid the ongoing global energy crisis at the next cabinet meeting, said Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Sunday. “A decision on whether to introduce online classes will be taken at the highest policy-making level and the proposal would likely be placed before the cabinet after consultations with stakeholders.The Cabinet Division will brief the media,” he said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat. The next cabinet meeting is scheduled for April 9 as meetings are usually held on Thursdays. Earlier, at a cabinet meeting on March 2, the government decided to reduce office hours by one hour to save energy, a measure that came into effect on Sunday. It also ordered shops and shopping malls to close by 6pm, along with suspending loans for government officials to purchase vehicles and cutting fuel allocations by 30 percent. Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani said the Education Ministry would issue separate guidelines for educational institutions taking into account the need for further discussions. The government is considering a blended system combining online and in-person classes to ensure learning continues without disruption, said the minister. “We are encouraging online education alongside physical classes, as the duration of the global energy crisis remains uncertain,” he said.  

The Ministry of Education is considering introducing both online and offline classes at the school level amid the global energy crisis. “A proposal in this regard will be placed before the Cabinet and a decision will be taken following discussions,” Education minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon told reporters in the morning after a meeting with Prime Minister Tareque Rahman at the Secretariat.  “The global crisis is not only affecting Bangladesh and we don’t know how long it will continue. That is why we are thinking of bringing our school system online and adapting a blended system,” he added. He said school hours have already been disrupted due to holidays during Ramadan and various other disturbances. “Previously, classes were held five days a week. Now, we have lost many sessions, so we are considering extending school hours to a six-day week. Meanwhile, due to the international fuel crisis we are also exploring the possibility of online classes at certain times,” he said. The minister added that a recent survey showed around 85% of respondents want online learning options but cautioned that fully shifting to online education could lead to social isolation among students. “We are thinking about a balanced approach,” he said. Earlier in the morning, Minister Milon and State Minister for Mass Education Bobby Hajja met with the Prime Minister at the secretariat.

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 ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Thursday directed the officials concerned to introduce AI-based automation in teacher transfer processes in schools and colleges to curb lobbying and ensure greater transparency. The minister gave the directive at a view-exchange meeting with officials of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE). Various measures were discussed at the meeting to address administrative weaknesses within the Education Ministry and its affiliated departments. He stressed the need for stronger coordination, open discussion and mutual cooperation to make the working environment more effective and service-oriented. “We have to reduce unnecessary gaps within the administration and build a collaborative work culture so that the speed and quality of services in the education sector improve,” he said. He urged officials to give opinions fearlessly and based on logic. Emphasising prompt resolution of teachers’ administrative issues, Milon said teachers from different regions should not have to spend unnecessary time visiting offices. “Matters related to salaries, allowances, pensions, leave, transfers, training and higher education must be disposed of within a specified timeframe.” He also underscored the importance of expanding automation and digital systems to simplify and modernise service delivery. “In future, a system can be developed enabling service seekers to easily identify the relevant desk or official according to the nature of their problems. There is no alternative to expanding online services.” When officials highlighted certain limitations in existing online systems and software management, the minister directed them to resolve the issues promptly to make administrative activities more dynamic and transparent. Senior officials of the Education Ministry and DSHE were present at the meeting.

Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Wednesday announced closer monitoring and enhanced oversight to improve the quality of primary education, saying necessary steps will be taken to accelerate work and motivate all concerned. “Education begins at the primary school level. So we must increase our focus right from the start. Without proper implementation of plans, it is not possible to achieve the desired outcomes,” Milon said while addressing a view-exchange meeting with officials at the Directorate of Primary Education. Education Minister urges action from UGC to develop world-class universities The minister said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman holds a weekly review meeting on education every Saturday, where progress of the week’s activities must be presented. “Ensuring dynamism and accountability in the education sector is now a demand of the time.” Referring to various demands and grievances of officials and employees, Milon said, “There will always be demands, and it is not possible to fulfil all of them completely. The reasonable ones will be addressed in phases. No one will be deprived.” Expressing optimism that the BNP government would increase budget allocation for primary education, the minister said the sector is likely to receive a higher budget this time. Initiatives will be taken to resolve justified complaints through detailed discussions and effective decisions. Technical education must align with global labour market trends: Education Minister The minister also stressed the need to strengthen activities up to the field level, saying greater dedication from all concerned would help improve education standards. “We need to focus on what we have done, what should be done and how we can further enhance the quality of education.” He further noted that previous projects undertaken by the Education Ministry would be evaluated to assess how far their missions and visions were implemented. While earlier initiatives placed relatively more emphasis on infrastructure development, the focus will now shift to ensuring quality education. The meeting was chaired by Director General of the Directorate of Primary Education Abu Noor Md Shamsuzzaman and attended by senior and field-level officials of the department.

The results of the Junior Scholarship Examination were published on Wednesday, with a total of 46,200 students selected under two categories. Of them, 14,700 students secured scholarships in the talent pool category while 31,500 were awarded general scholarships. The results of the examination held after a gap of 17 years were announced at 1:30pm on Wednesday. Education Minister Dr. ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon formally announced the results at a function held at the conference room of the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Education Ministry. State Minister for Education Bobby Hajjaj was present at the event. According to the published results, a total of 3,15,160 students participated in the Junior Scholarship Examination under nine general education boards across the country. Under Dhaka Education Board, 3,635 students received talent pool scholarships and 7,790 received general scholarships while 967 students secured talent pool scholarships and 2,073 received general scholarships under Mymensingh Education Board. Besides, Rajshahi Education Board awarded 1,926 talent pool and 4,128 general scholarships while Cumilla Education Board awarded 1,677 talent pool and 3,593 general scholarships. A total of 948 students received talent pool scholarships and 2,030 received general scholarships under Sylhet Education Board and Barishal Education Board awarded 873 talent pool and 1,871 general scholarships. The Jashore Education Board awarded 1,662 talent pool and 3,561 general scholarships while the Chattogram Education Board awarded 1,210 talent pool and 2,593 general scholarships. 1,802 students secured talent pool scholarships and 3,861 received general scholarships under Dinajpur Education Board. Results can be accessed through the website of the Directorate of Primary Education by clicking on the ‘Scholarship Result’ option and entering the roll number and year (2026). Students can also obtain their results via SMS by typing the board name, roll number and year and sending the message to 16222. Students selected under the talent pool category will receive Tk 450 per month while those under the general category will receive Tk 300 per month. The scholarships will continue for two years (Classes IX and X) along with a one-time annual grant. The examinations were held from December 28 to 30 last year and on January 6 this year at 611 centres under nine general education boards across the country.

Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury on Wednesday said that the government has nationalised 828 educational institutions in the last 15 years. They include 54 schools and colleges, 374 colleges, 347 schools and 49 technical institutions, he said in Parliament. No plan to change new education system: Education Minister The education minister said this while responding to a tabled question of ruling party MP elected from Chattogram M Abdul Latif. In response to the question of Awami League lawmaker elected from Natore Shafiqul Islam Shimul of Natore-2 constituency, Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury said that the present government has no plan to resume JSC and PSC final examinations. Seminar on the genetics of purple potato held at BAU In response to the question of M Abdul Latif, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Rumana Ali said that currently the number of government primary schools in the country is 51,026. “The process of bringing private educational institutions under registration under new rules is going on. The government has no plan to nationalise those private educational institutions,” she said. IU fresher ‘ragged by BCL men’ again