JICA and DPE organise seminar to mark 20 years of JICA’s support in primary education sector
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Directorate of Primary Education have jointly organised a seminar titled 'Review of 20 Years of JICA Cooperation for Primary Education in Bangladesh and Completion of JSP3 Project' today, on May 14, 2025, at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, Dhaka.
The event reflected on two decades of JICA's crucial role in advancing the primary education sector in Bangladesh. It marked the successful completion of the "JICA Support Program 3 for Strengthening Mathematics and Science in Primary Education Project" (JSP3).
Key figures graced the seminar, including Professor Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Podder, Adviser to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education (MOPME), as the Chief Guest, H.E. Saida Shinichi, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh, and Abu Taher Md. Masud Rana, Secretary of MOPME, as Special Guests.
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Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Podder expressed sincere gratitude to the Japanese government and JICA for their substantial grant aid of 5 billion Japanese Yen for the Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP) 3 and 4. He highlighted the transformative impact of JICA's technical cooperation projects in shifting Bangladesh's primary education from a rote-learning approach to an inquiry-based, child-centred system that fosters thinking, imagination, and curiosity.
Abu Taher Md. Masud Rana, Secretary of MOPME, acknowledged Bangladesh's significant financial challenges due to global economic disruptions and appealed to the Government of Japan to continue its generous grant support for the upcoming PEDP5.
Mr. Ichiguchi Tomohide, Chief Representative of JICA Bangladesh, reflected on the past 20 years, emphasising JICA's focus on crucial areas such as teacher education development, teaching package development, the introduction of lesson study, and curriculum and textbook revision in mathematics and science. He also emphasised the importance of developing a long-term national vision for Bangladesh's education sector to guide strategic planning over the next two to three decades.
Abu Noor Md Shamsuzzaman, Director General of the DPE, chaired the seminar. He expressed his deep appreciation to JICA for its extensive support in improving the quality of continuous learning for students and teachers. He expressed optimism that, with JICA's continued backing, the government would be able to accelerate positive changes in the primary education teaching and learning environment.
The event drew participation from representatives of various key organisations, including Mopme, DPE, the National Academy for Primary Education (NAPE), the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), development partners, and other stakeholders in the education sector. The seminar provided a platform to celebrate past achievements, share lessons learned, and further discuss future collaborations to enhance primary education in Bangladesh.
