Reform education system, reduce disparity, experts urge
Addressing the event, Bobby said that although the country has made progress in expanding educational infrastructure, the overall quality of education has yet to reach the desired level.
Experts have stressed the need to reform the education system to ensure quality learning and reduce existing disparities, while making it more responsive to future challenges and employment needs.
The view came from a dialogue on education organised by the Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh and the Centre for Policy Dialogue at a hotel in the capital today (16 march).
Chaired by Debapriya Bhattacharya, convenor of the platform and distinguished fellow at CPD, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj and Prime Minister's Adviser on education affairs Mahdi Amin attended the event as the chief and special guests respectively.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Addressing the event, Bobby said that although the country has made progress in expanding educational infrastructure, the overall quality of education has yet to reach the desired level.
He said that the COVID-19 pandemic created a significant learning gap among students, which remains a major concern. To address it, the government is planning reforms to modernise the education system and reduce disparities within the sector.
He prioritised narrowing the gap between general and madrasa education and improving teachers' quality and benefits.
Mahdi Amin in his speech emphasised the need to move beyond a rote-learning-based system and place greater focus on technical and vocational education.
He said measures are being taken to reform the curriculum to reduce the gap between the demands of the industrial sector and the existing education system. The government is considering reintroducing intake tests for school admissions instead of the lottery-based system.
Debapriya said that advancing the education sector in line with the election manifesto requires prioritising three key areas: ensuring quality education, building an inclusive and equitable system, and strengthening transparency and accountability.
Alongside infrastructure development, improving the quality of education must be given the highest priority, he said, adding that reducing disparities between urban and rural education is also essential.
CPD Research Director Towfiqul Islam Khan presented the keynote paper highlighting current challenges in the education sector and the need for comprehensive reforms.
