Dhaka:The Standing Committee on the Ministry of Education of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad has proposed the implementation of an annual assessment system that aligns with international standards to enhance the quality of education in Bangladesh. This initiative aims to move away from the existing focus on pass rates and towards genuine educational quality.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, during its first meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on September 10, the committee outlined several measures to improve transparency in education spending, address irregularities and corruption, and investigate the decreasing enrolment at the secondary level. The committee also emphasized the importance of strengthening teacher training and expanding technical education.
Md Salim Bhuiyan, Chairman of the committee and Member of Parliament, stated that the previous government prioritized numerical indicators over real educational quality. He highlighted the current government's commitment to ensuring genuine educational quality, mentioning the need for modern curricula and periodic evaluations of learning outcomes.
Committee member Reza Kibria stressed the importance of setting specific annual benchmarks to ensure Bangladeshi students excel in international assessments, especially in mathematics and science. The committee also proposed a long-term national education vision modeled on Malaysia to maintain consistency in education policies and curricula.
The meeting minutes revealed a proposed budget of Tk 57,301.68 crore for the Secondary and Higher Education Division for the 2026-27 fiscal year, marking a 42.7 percent increase from the previous revised budget. The initiatives include distributing laptops to 40,000 students who achieve a Golden GPA in 2026 and implementing a Tk 4,000 crore scholarship program for seven million female students to promote girls' education and reduce dropout rates.
Additionally, the committee recognized the transfer of outstanding dues to approximately 70,000 retired teachers and employees through the Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) and iBAS systems, with an average payment of Tk 5 lakh per teacher.
The committee expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for allocating Tk 2,000 crore in special assistance to address the crisis related to teachers' welfare and retirement benefits. They recommended expediting the MPO enlistment process for eligible non-MPO institutions and long-serving teachers and investigating the significant decline in secondary-level enrolment.
Technical and Madrasah Education Division Secretary (routine charge) Shamsur Rahman Khan reported that technical education enrolment was 19.16 percent in 2025, with a target to reach 30 percent by 2030.
Additional decisions included conducting field visits to educational institutions, requiring the attendance of education board heads and National University representatives at future meetings, and expediting the settlement of outstanding allowances, subject to budget availability.
Educationists have welcomed these proposals, especially the focus on measurable learning outcomes and international standards, viewing them as significant steps towards improving the quality of education.