‘Edu policy declined under previous govt’
State Minister for Primary and Mass Education, Bobby Hajjaj, MP, stated that there has been a significant decline in the national education policy from 2010 to 2024. He said that during this period, there was no clear vision. He also remarked that the 1972 education policy formulated by Dr. Qudrat-e-Khuda is no longer sufficient for the country. Due to the shortcomings of past education policies, Bangladesh has failed to secure a satisfactory position in the international job market.
He added that for many years, most students who passed HSC examinations could not secure admission to universities, leading to the introduction of a lottery system for admissions. The Prime Minister, Tarique Rahman, has instructed authorities to prioritize skill development in secondary and higher secondary education.
He made these remarks on Sunday while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled “The Role of Teachers and the State in Improving the Quality of Education” held at the Tarabo Municipality auditorium in Rupganj, Narayanganj. The seminar was chaired by Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner Md. Raihan Kabir. Special guests included Narayanganj-1 (Rupganj) MP Mustafizur Rahman Bhuiyan Dipu and Superintendent of Police Mohammad Mizanur Rahman Munshi.
The keynote speaker was Professor Dr. Md. Abdus Salam from the Institute of Education and Research at the University of Dhaka. The welcome speech was delivered by Rupganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Saiful Islam.
The State Minister further said that current targets in education are too modest. He noted that only about 65 per cent of students can speak Bangla properly. “We are spending large sums of money on building educational institutions, but what kind of education is actually taking place inside?” he questioned. He emphasized the importance of curriculum, classroom environment, and competency, and stressed the need to ensure that qualified teachers are present in classrooms.
He also called on headteachers to take a leading role in improving the education system, stating that real change will only come through collective efforts. “Top-down decisions alone will no longer work. Teachers must take responsibility for education.
