Mahdi Amin, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Education and Primary and Mass Education, said, “The government plans to make technical and vocational education compulsory from the sixth standard to make the country's education system up-to-date, skill-based and career-oriented.”
At the same time, new initiatives are being taken to develop students' creativity, ethics, sports, culture and entrepreneurial skills, he said.
He said these things at a press conference organized by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education at the Secretariat on Monday (June 8).
Mahdi Amin said, “Bangladesh's education system will be restructured in such a way that students can acquire the skills needed for real life rather than just relying on certificates.”
At that time, Education Minister ANM Ehchanul Haque Milon, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaz, senior officials including the Secretary of the Ministry of Education, heads of various departments and Vice-Chancellor of the National University were present.
Mahdi Amin said, “The current government wants to build an education system where students' creativity, intelligence, thoughtfulness and innovative abilities will be developed.”
He said, “We want students to progress equally in sports, culture, leadership, technology and skills, not just limited to exam results or certificates.”
As part of the reform of the education system, several important subjects are being added to the new curriculum. These include Sports Education, Cultural Education, Technical and Vocational Education and a new subject called 'Learning with Happiness'. Through these subjects moral values, civic responsibility, social behavior and real life skills will be developed in the students.
Mahdi Amin said, “According to our plan, sports will be introduced as a new subject. Culture will also be included in the curriculum. Most importantly, technical and vocational education will be made compulsory for all students from the sixth standard. Besides, there will be a subject called 'Learning with Happiness', where morals, values, responsibility and becoming a good citizen will be taught.”
He also said, “In keeping with the current world, importance will also be given to third language education. Within the existing educational structure, an opportunity will be created to increase students' international communication skills through a comprehensive chapter.”
The education advisor said that many problems and limitations have been created in the education system of the country in the last 16 years. These problems cannot be solved in a day or a year. But the government is working to bring the necessary changes step by step.
He said, “Wherever additions, subtractions and modifications are needed in the education system, we will do so based on the opinion of experts and professionals. Our aim is to build an education system that has moral education, family values, skills and linkages with the industrial sector.”
Regarding the new curriculum, Mahdi Amin said, “Introducing a completely new curriculum is a long-term process. After assuming office, the government had only three to four months to prepare and print new books. As a result, it is not possible to implement all the changes at once. But the ongoing reform program will be more extensive next year.”
He also said, “We are working keeping the reality in mind. Hundred percent change is not possible in three-four months. But next year, more extensive changes will be made and gradually a modern, skill-based and up-to-date education system will be established.”
The advisor to the Prime Minister also spoke about the use of technology in the education sector at the press conference. He said that there are plans to supply large number of tabs for primary and secondary level students in next few years.
“We will need around 1.4 lakh tabs. This is a big project for primary and secondary students. Plans for this have been included in the next fiscal year's budget,” he noted.
Mahdi Amin also highlighted various initiatives of the government for the sports and cultural development of the students of the country. He said that more than 2.2 million students participated in the Primary School Gold Cup Football Tournament this year. This participation of both boys and girls is a great achievement in the sports history of the country.
He said, “Through the football tournament, we want to inculcate discipline, teamwork, leadership and confidence in the children. The competition is going on from the union level to the national level. There are plans to hold the national level final on June 20.”
He also announced the launch of a national program called 'Start-up, Science Project and Innovation Idea Showcase' to develop the science and innovative thinking of students. Through this program, students of secondary and higher education institutions will get an opportunity to present innovative ideas to solve local and national problems.
He said, “Seed funding will be arranged for those students who come up with good innovative ideas. We want the youth to become entrepreneurs and contribute to the development of the country.”
Regarding the expansion of technical education, he said, “Technical education will be established as a part of mainstream education in the country. For this purpose, skills competition, career fair and direct job opportunities will be created at the national level.”
In his words, “We want technical education to be established as a respectable course of study. The system will be created so that students get employment opportunities from educational institutions.”
He also informed about the plan to hand over one tree sapling to each student under the 'One Student, One Tree' program for environmental conservation.
All educational institutions of the country will be involved in this initiative as part of the government's 25 crore tree plantation program in five years.
