Govt plans big for edn, execution doubts remain

The BNP-led government flagged education as a priority in its first 100 days, unveiling plans for curriculum revision, compulsory sports from Class IV, free uniforms, midday meals and a commitment to raise education spending to 5 percent of GDP.

It also identified 43 priority areas, announced a 12-point education agenda and launched a 180-day programme covering technical education and classroom digitisation.

However, educationists say it is unclear how the government will finance and implement the plans and how it will monitor their progress. Moreover, concerns remain over teacher shortages, students’ dependency on coaching centres and guidebooks, and political influence in university appointments.

“The overall plan, strategy and basic goals are still not clear. The initiatives look fragmented, separate and partial,” Manzoor Ahmed, professor emeritus at Brac University, told The Daily Star.

Separate plans should be designed for different types and levels of education -- school, madrasa, technical and vocational, and higher education, he noted.

The government’s 12-point agenda covers budget reform, teacher training, access to digital content, improvement of school infrastructure, midday meals, “One Teacher, One Tab”, and the learning of a third language.

Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon recently announced a 180-day programme that includes equipping classrooms with multimedia technology, providing technical education to all students, and free education up to the university level for the children of martyrs and those injured in the July Uprising.

The government also said sports, physical and mental health education, and arts would be made mandatory from Class IV starting next academic year.

Officials said the initiative would begin with seven disciplines and students would be assessed through theory and practical participation.

At the primary level, the government plans to provide free uniforms and jute bags to students under a pilot programme covering two schools in each upazila. Officials earlier said the programme would begin in July, with one lakh students expected to receive the items in the first month.

The government also said that the midday meal programme is being implemented in 151 upazilas and will be expanded in phases.

Referring to the government’s performance so far, Rasheda K Choudhury, executive director of Campaign for Popular Education, said 100 days may not be enough to fully assess an elected government, especially because Ramadan, Eid and other holidays fell within the period.

She further said the government’s repeated commitment to the sector should be acknowledged. “We have seen a strong position from the government on education after a long time.”

On the spending pledge, Rasheda said, “Only increasing the budget will not be enough. There has to be accountability and transparency.” The government must explain where the money will be spent and how the spending will be monitored.

Rasheda welcomed the move to bring sports and culture into education and initiatives such as “Notun Kuri”.

She noted that the initiatives could help reduce children’s dependence on devices, but they would require proper planning, investment and monitoring.

The government has scheduled the next SSC exams for January 7 and the HSC exams for June 6, 2027, as part of efforts to align public examinations more closely with the academic calendar.

Meanwhile, its decision to reintroduce the primary scholarship exam has drawn criticism from educationists.

Rasheda said the scholarship exam puts pressure on children and encourages them to take the help of guidebooks and coaching centres.

Besides, if the exam is held as per the current structure, it may increase inequality because it is quota-based and allows only 40 percent students of a school to take the test, she said.

“There is no need for quota. The exams should be open for all schools and all students.”

She also pointed out that the government has not taken strict measures to close coaching centres and curb the use of guidebooks.

There is also shortage of teachers in general, madrasa and technical streams.

The education minister recently told the parliament that at least 92,081 teaching posts remain vacant in government and non-government institutions.

Manzoor said the crisis runs deeper than numbers. He pointed out that around 34,000 to 35,000 primary schools are without head teachers, while government secondary schools also lack permanent heads.

“If a school does not have leadership, how will change happen?” he asked.

There have also been concerns over political influence in the appointments of vice chancellors (VCs) and campus activities at higher education institutions.

Manzoor said students may engage in politics, but they should not act as agents of political parties on campuses.

Since taking office, the government has appointed VCs to at least 18 public universities, with almost all appointees having prior or current affiliations with BNP-aligned teachers’ organisations.

Regarding this, Rasheda said such appointments have long been part of Bangladesh’s political culture.

She further said the key question remains whether these VCs would be accountable to students and institutions, or to political parties.

When contacted, Bobby Hajjaj, state minister for primary and mass education said the government’s biggest achievement in its first 100 days was the launch of “systemic” reforms to address long-standing problems in primary education.

Work has already begun on training and policies for teachers, curriculum and improvement of school infrastructure and classroom standards.

On the 180-day programme, he said the ministry would decide on new curricula and teacher training framework by mid-August after receiving feedback from different committees that are working on these issues.

Referring to the 12-point pledge, Bobby said all commitments made by the government were being pursued and that “nothing will be left out”.

Free textbooks, free education, school uniforms and the midday meal initiative would serve as incentives for students and guardians, he said, adding that the government plans to introduce midday meals in all government primary schools next year.

Bobby said the “One Teacher, One Tab” initiative would be implemented as part of a wider digital ecosystem, not as a separate device distribution project.

Asked where progress had fallen short, Bobby said the ministry had set realistic targets and was on track to meet them.

Over the next 80 days, the ministry would prioritise pilot projects, including the distribution of uniforms, bags and shoes, while continuing structural work, he added.