Govt plans twin education overhaul with Tk2,662cr push for primary, madrasah and technical sectors
Officials say the twin initiatives are designed to address persistent gaps in teaching quality, infrastructure and student assessment across the education system.
The government is set to roll out two major reform programmes worth a combined Tk2,662 crore to modernise Bangladesh's education system -- spanning primary, madrasah and technical streams with a focus on digitalisation, infrastructure expansion and competency-based learning.
The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education will implement the NextGen Primary Education Program (NPEP) from 2026 to 2030, while the Technical and Madrasah Education Division will simultaneously roll out the NextGen Education Program (NGEP) over the same period.
The primary education initiative, to be executed by the Directorate of Primary Education, carries an estimated cost of Tk288.11 crore. It aims to digitally transform 65,567 government primary schools, benefiting around 10.99 million students and training more than 384,000 teachers.
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At its core, the NPEP will introduce curriculum-aligned digital content for grades 1–5 and a Unified Assessment System (UAS) by 2027, replacing exam-centric evaluation with continuous classroom-based assessment. The programme will also upgrade the existing IPEMIS platform with artificial intelligence and GIS tools to enable real-time monitoring of attendance, teaching quality and school performance.
Parallelly, the NGEP implemented by the Directorate of Madrasah Education and the Directorate of Technical Education will invest Tk2,374.08 crore to overhaul madrasah and vocational education. The programme is jointly financed by the government and development partners, including the Asian Development Bank and the Global Partnership for Education.
A key focus of the NGEP is infrastructure development, with plans to construct 2,085 classrooms across 495 madrasahs and 200 vocational schools, alongside the establishment of 695 ICT and science laboratories. All participating institutions will be equipped with smart classrooms.
The programme will also introduce a Learning Management System integrated with MEMIS and pilot a UAS in 695 institutions by 2028, aiming to standardise learning outcomes across streams. Additionally, at least 100,000 teachers will receive training, supported by blended professional development programmes.
Officials say the twin initiatives are designed to address persistent gaps in teaching quality, infrastructure and student assessment across the education system.
By 2030, the government expects improvements in both foundational learning at the primary level and employability in secondary education, including a targeted rise in completion rates and student competency.
If implemented effectively, the combined reforms could mark a significant shift towards a more integrated, technology-driven and outcomes-focused education system in Bangladesh.
