The education ministry has adopted a 12-point policy agenda, including raising allocation to 5 percent of GDP for the education sector. The initiatives will be implemented in three phases. Under this reform agenda, technical education and sports will be compulsory at the secondary level, introducing third-language instruction beyond Bangla and English, the “One Teacher, One Tab” programme, and innovation grants in higher education and research. State Minister for Education Bobby Hajjaj presented the agenda at a press conference held on Thursday (February 19) at the ministry’s conference room. Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon was also present.
Bobby Hajjaj said, “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, our government will no longer treat education as an expenditure item. Education will be the state’s foremost investment, the principal factory of human resources and the core nation-building project.”
Outlining the 12-point policy framework, he said, “Financing is the first precondition for reform. In recent years, education allocations have hovered around 12 percent of the total budget and roughly 1.5 to 2 percent of GDP — reflecting a structural limitation. Our government’s clear policy position, especially that of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, is to raise education spending to 5 percent of GDP. This is also our electoral commitment. International benchmarks also recommend allocating 4–6 percent of GDP and 15–20 percent of total public expenditure to education. To achieve this, the ministry will work with the Ministry of Finance to implement a phased three-year fiscal uplift plan under a medium-term budget framework. Increasing allocations alone isn’t sufficient; spending priorities must also shift. Budget equity and learning outcomes will be the two principal indicators.”
The ministry also announced measures to implement the development budget, along with stopping the last quarter rush. Moreover, it is not enough to just increase the allocation, but also to change the standard of expenditure. It noted that a significant portion of development budgets is spent in the final quarter, resulting in delays in textbook distribution, construction works, and training programmes, which is misaligned with the academic calendar. Last fiscal year, nearly 53 percent of the secondary and higher secondary development fund reportedly remained unused and was returned.
Bobby Hajjaj described this not only as an economic failure but also as a loss of students’ time and opportunity. To address this, approvals under the Planning Commission’s Annual Development Programme (ADP) and project gatekeeping processes will be realigned with the school calendar.
Mentioning that development expenditure should have been prioritized again, he said, while revenue expenditure keeps schools operational, development spending modernises them. Priority areas will include strengthening teacher training institutions; establishing science laboratories, libraries, and language labs; developing digital content and assessment capacity; and improving school infrastructure, particularly water, sanitation, and safety systems. The government’s electoral pledges — such as mid-day meals, clean toilets, and adequate health support for female students — will also be implemented.
Regarding education quality improvement, the BNP manifesto includes free Wi-Fi, multimedia classrooms, and the “One Teacher, One Tab” initiative. In coordination with the ICT Division, digital literacy, artificial intelligence awareness, and cyber safety will be made mandatory at the school level. Teachers’ tablets will include lesson plan templates, question banks, attendance systems, and learning evidence tools.
The ministry also plans to introduce and make third-language education compulsory in phases — such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and French — based on labour market and higher education demand alongside Bangla and English. Implementation will be phased, considering teacher availability, content development, and assessment readiness. Not only the theoretical part, but language education will incorporate listening and speaking components, and communication skills will gradually be included in assessments.
In addition, the reform agenda calls for institutionalising science education, technological literacy, and project-based learning from the secondary level. Selected schools in each upazila will establish robotics and maker corners, and science will be integrated into term-based practical routines rather than remaining confined to textbooks. Teacher training will make subject knowledge and assessment literacy mandatory components.
Sports will also become timetable-based and compulsory at the secondary level rather than being limited to occasional events. In coordination with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP), a school sports training system will be developed. Weekly sports periods will be introduced, along with talent hunts and school championships or leagues at the upazila and district levels.
Worked examples, practice sets, and revision calendars will be incorporated into textbooks. In board examinations, item banks, blueprints, moderation systems, and school-based assessment guidelines will be introduced in phases. The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education and the Technical and Madrasa Education Division will jointly determine Minimum Learning Standards. Government salary benefits and recognition for private educational institutions will be linked to verifiable evidence of teaching activities, including contact hours, classroom observation, and learning evidence. The education plan also mentions full implementation of Qawmi certificates and state recognition for Qaris and Alims.
In coordination with the Bangladesh Technical Education Board (BTEB) and the National Skills Development Authority (NSDA), credit bridge courses will be developed. Technical education will be integrated at the secondary level. The plan also states that industry-academia internships and career centres will be made mandatory at universities and colleges.
Rasheda K Choudhury, former adviser to the caretaker government and executive director of the Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE), described the government’s initiative as a far-reaching vision. Speaking to Bonik Barta, she said, “This is a very good framework. We’ve received an indication of the work they intend to begin. The reform areas identified have become necessary. Now the question is how far they can move forward. The recommendations made during the interim government period for qualitative transformation in primary and secondary education should be taken into account. My expectation is that this plan doesn’t remain confined to the Secretariat. Whatever is implemented should involve broad consultation with education stakeholders — students, teachers, guardians, and institutions.” She also said education from primary to class eight should be made free of cost.
On higher education and research innovation grants, the ministry’s plan states that universities will not only conduct classes but also engage in research and innovation. A Higher Education and Research Innovation Grant will be introduced. Students will have access to student loans and support for higher studies abroad. The modernisation and quality enhancement of the National University are also included in the plan.
On accountability, the ministry said the culture of spending project funds without ensuring classes are held will be dismantled. A monthly public dashboard will be available on the ministry’s website, disclosing project progress, training numbers, textbook distribution, and class-related data. Education report cards will be published at the school and college levels. A tracking number-based feedback mechanism will monitor complaints and service standards.
State Minister for Education Bobby Hajjaj said timelines have already been set for implementing the reforms. “We’ll proceed in three phases. The first phase will include a diagnostic review, root-cause analysis of development budget returns, and pilot design for teacher tablets, multimedia, and language education. The second phase will involve announcing a National Education Roadmap with the Prime Minister’s approval. The third phase will span 12 to 36 months — one to three years,” he said.
Describing the final phase, he added, “In the third phase, we’ll undertake major technical reforms in examinations and assessment. Bridging will be created among technical, general, and madrasa education streams. Research and innovation grants at universities will also be scaled up.”
At the press conference, Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon outlined three immediate priorities: creating an environment to bring students back to classrooms, reviewing and revising the national curriculum, and modernising technical education. He said the “One Teacher, One Tab” programme will be implemented in phases for all primary and secondary teachers, and a 180-day roadmap will be published soon.
The minister further said, “Past measures such as exam suspension or auto-pass decisions taken under special circumstances, those were never permanent or desirable solutions. The current government’s objective is to make the education system time-appropriate, quality-driven, and accountable. All preparations have been taken to ensure the upcoming SSC examination is conducted in a fair, transparent, and smooth manner. Clear directives have been issued to prevent any irregularities in the question paper preparation and distribution. Preparations are also underway with curriculum experts from the National Curriculum and Textbook Board, and a decision on forming an Education Commission will be announced after discussions with the Prime Minister.”