Govt targets up to 90% literacy rate by 2031: Bobby Hajjaj

The government aims to raise Bangladesh's literacy rate to between 86% and 90% by 2031, with plans to bring 45 lakh illiterate men and women aged 25-45 under functional literacy programmes, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj has said.

He outlined the target in a written statement presented ahead of International Literacy Day, which is being observed today (8 September).

According to the Labour Force Survey 2024, the literacy rate among people aged seven and above stands at 78.98%, Hajjaj said.

He said a large number of out-of-school and dropout children and adolescents, marginalised communities and adults deprived of educational opportunities still remain outside the literacy system.

"Bringing out-of-school children, dropout adolescents, marginalised communities and disadvantaged adults into literacy and skills programmes quickly is now one of the government's priorities," he said.

Hajjaj said literacy could no longer be limited to signing one's name or recognising letters. This year's Unesco-set theme, "Literacy for People, the Planet and Prosperity", reflects efforts to link literacy with employment, life skills, digital capabilities and environmental awareness, he added.

Under the proposed Adult Literacy and Functional Ability (ALFA) Enhancement Programme, 35,000 men and women in 40 upazilas across 40 districts will receive functional literacy training in the pilot phase, he said.

The government later plans to bring 45 lakh people under the programme.

For out-of-school children and adolescents, Hajjaj said the Alternative Learning Opportunity (ALO) programme will provide basic education up to Class Five to 19,200 children aged 10-14 in 64 upazilas across all districts.

Another 19,200 young people aged 15–24 are planned to receive livelihood skills training.

He said the skills-based literacy programme SKILFO would be expanded to another 16 districts, with a target of reaching 1 lakh adolescents over three years.

Under an ongoing programme, 5,120 dropout adolescents aged 15-24 in sadar upazilas of all 64 districts are receiving 460 hours of training – 100 hours of functional literacy and 360 hours of skills training.

Hajjaj said 4,198 of 4,312 students registered under a special programme had been assessed as competent after training. Of them, 3,882 received some form of job linkage.

Among them, 603 entered direct employment, 1,304 became entrepreneurs and 879 joined apprenticeships, he said.

Future literacy programmes will also focus on digital information verification, online services, digital transactions and safe internet use, Hajjaj added.

Mid-day meals planned nationwide next year

The state minister said the government plans to introduce the mid-day meal programme in all government primary schools across the country by next year to improve nutrition and reduce dropouts.

"Providing nutritious food plays a highly effective role in ensuring attendance among children aged four to 10 and keeping them in formal education," he said.

Hajjaj said students in 151 upazilas are currently receiving nutritious food under the school feeding programme and that the government plans to expand it nationwide next year.

New curriculum, head teacher recruitment

On the new subject being introduced in Class Four, Hajjaj said students are initially being given a textbook on sports and cultural education.

"The full curriculum will be implemented when the current batch moves to Class Five in 2028," he said.

He said assistant teachers would initially receive theoretical training, while experts from the sports and culture ministries would be involved through teacher training institutes.

On head teacher recruitment, Hajjaj said around 35,400 posts were vacant or involved in legal proceedings.

"Discussions have begun with the Public Service Commission so that recruitment and posting to these posts can be completed as quickly as possible," he said.