Dhaka: Prime Minister’s Education Adviser Mahdi Amin announced today that the government plans to make technical and vocational education mandatory starting from Grade Six to create a skill-based and employment-oriented education system.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Mahdi outlined several initiatives aimed at fostering students’ creativity, morality, sportsmanship, cultural awareness, and entrepreneurial skills during a press conference at the Secretariat.
The event was attended by Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj, senior government officials, directors of various agencies, and the vice chancellor of the National University. Mahdi emphasized that the restructuring of Bangladesh’s education system is intended to equip students with practical skills necessary for real-life applications rather than focusing solely on academic achievements.
He explained that the new curriculum would incorporate subjects like sports education, cultural education, technical and vocational education, and a novel subject titled ‘Learning with Happiness.’ These subjects are designed to teach students moral values, civic responsibility, social behavior, and practical life skills. Furthermore, Mahdi announced plans to introduce sports and cultural studies as separate subjects, with an emphasis on learning a third language to enhance international communication skills.
Mahdi also discussed the introduction of a new curriculum, acknowledging that while creating a completely new curriculum is a long-term endeavor, the reform process will expand further next year. He added that the government intends to distribute approximately 1.4 million tablets to primary and secondary school students as part of the next fiscal year’s budget.
The press conference also highlighted various initiatives to promote sports and cultural development, including the Primary School Gold Cup Football Tournament, which saw participation from over 2.2 million students. Mahdi emphasized the importance of instilling discipline, teamwork, leadership, and self-confidence among children through these activities.
Furthermore, Mahdi announced a national programme titled ‘Startup, Science Project and Innovation Idea Showcasing’ to encourage scientific thinking and innovation among students. This initiative will provide students opportunities to propose innovative solutions to local and national challenges, with seed funding available for strong ideas.
Regarding the expansion of technical education, Mahdi stated that vocational education will become an integral part of mainstream education, with national skills competitions, career fairs, and direct employment opportunities. He also announced the ‘One Student, One Tree’ programme, a five-year initiative to plant 250 million trees with the involvement of educational institutions nationwide.