Khulna: Education Minister Ehsanul Haque Milon announced a government initiative to distribute bicycles to secondary schoolgirls nationwide, aiming to encourage female education. This initiative was revealed during his speech as the chief guest at the Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) Day event held at the university auditorium.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the Minister highlighted that alongside bicycles, each of the 116,000 students who achieved a GPA-5 would receive a tablet as a form of encouragement. He emphasized the government’s financial commitment, noting that approximately Tk 10.75 lakh is spent on each student, underscoring the need for a return on this investment beyond infrastructure development.
Milon shared that the Prime Minister plans to increase the education budget allocation from 3.4 percent to 5 percent, reflecting the government’s broader educational goals. He advocated for technology-oriented education, suggesting the introduction of courses related to electric vehicles and modern subjects such as artificial intelligence and robotics at the university level. He expressed dissatisfaction over a stalled application to introduce an AI course at the University Grants Commission for two years.
The Minister also raised concerns about the necessity of launching new university departments without thorough review. Departments like ‘Building Engineering and Construction Management’ and ‘Urban and Regional Planning’ should be evaluated for their necessity alongside existing courses. For specialized fields such as Leather Engineering, he stressed the importance of considering laboratory facilities and existing institutions.
Touching on teacher recruitment delays, Milon mentioned complications at the Ministry of Education stalling the appointment of approximately 4,500 teachers. He assured that discussions are ongoing to swiftly resolve these issues.
Reflecting on past educational reforms, Milon recalled the 2003 transformation of four BITs into universities during the tenure of then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, an initiative he was involved in as the State Minister for Education.
The KUET Day program, presided over by KUET Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr. Mohammad Mashud, featured Parliament Whip Rakibul Islam Bakul, MP, as a special guest. Celebrated annually on September 1, KUET Day marks the institution’s upgrade from a BIT to a full-fledged engineering and technology university in 2003. The day was commemorated with various activities, including flag hoisting, rallies, exhibitions, sports competitions, discussions, prayers, and cultural events.