Govt links education with jobs, digital and life skills Literacy Rate Rises to 77.9pc

Bangladesh’s literacy rate among people aged seven and above has risen to 77.9 per cent, with the government stepping up efforts to bring out-of-school children, dropouts, marginalised communities and disadvantaged adults into basic education and skills training.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj said the government was linking literacy with employment, life skills, digital capabilities and environmental awareness as part of its efforts to build a more skilled and technology-conscious population.

“The figure has emerged from the Economic Survey 2025, reflecting significant progress in the expansion of literacy in the country,” he said.

Hajjaj made the remarks at a press conference at the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education at the Secretariat yesterday, ahead of International Literacy Day, to be observed today.

He described the literacy rate of more than 77 per cent as an encouraging achievement but acknowledged that a significant section of the population still lacked access to basic education and essential skills.

“However, a large section of the population still remains outside access to basic education rights and necessary skills. Rapidly making out-of-school children, dropout adolescents, marginalised communities and disadvantaged adults literate and skilled is now one of the government’s priorities,” he said.

The state minister said literacy in the modern context could no longer be confined to the ability to sign one’s name or recognise letters. In line with UNESCO’s theme for this year’s International Literacy Day – “Literacy for People, the Planet and Prosperity” – the government is seeking to connect literacy with employment, practical skills, digital competence and environmental awareness.

Skills linked to employment
Hajjaj said the Bureau of Non-Formal Education was currently implementing the Effective Literacy and Practical Skills Training programme in the sadar upazilas of all 64 districts.

In the first phase, 4,198 of 4,312 registered dropout students passed the programme according to the standards of the Bangladesh National Qualifications Framework (BNQF).

Of them, 3,882, or 92.47 per cent, secured opportunities for permanent employment, apprenticeships in decent work or starting new businesses, he said.

The government has also adopted the Adult and Functional Literacy for Ability Enhancement Programme (ALFA) under the “Each One Teach One” model.

Hajjaj said the initiative aimed to help people deprived of institutional education become self-reliant and contribute to the goal of making Bangladesh free from illiteracy. The programme will be implemented based on the global model, he added.

New subject in primary schools
Responding to questions about teacher recruitment and training for a new subject at primary level, Hajjaj said an initial textbook on Sports and Cultural Education was being introduced in Class Four.

The full curriculum will be implemented when the current Class Four students move to Class Five in 2028, he said.

For now, assistant teachers will receive theoretical training, while experts from the ministries of sports and culture will be involved through Primary Teachers’ Institutes and Primary Teachers’ Colleges, he added.

Thousands of head teacher posts vacant
On the appointment of head teachers, Hajjaj said around 35,400 posts were either vacant or involved in legal proceedings.

Discussions had begun with the Public Service Commission (PSC) to ensure that recruitment and postings to the vacant positions could be completed as quickly as possible, he said.

Reaffirming the government’s “Bangladesh First” commitment, the state minister said the government was working with the media, non-governmental organisations and civil society to build a literate and technology-conscious Bangladesh capable of competing globally.

Secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education Jesmin Nahar, Bureau of Non-Formal Education Director General (additional charge) Monowara Ishrat, Directorate of Primary Education Director General Shahina Ferdousi and senior officials attended the press conference.