Govt to harmonise Bangla, English curricula
State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj on Saturday said necessary harmonisation would be brought into Bangla- and English-medium curricula to raise Bangladesh’s education system to global standards.
He said every student should have a common minimum standard of basic knowledge, skills and learning outcomes regardless of the medium of education.
Speaking as the chief guest at the School Leaders Conference 2026, organised by Oxford AQA International Qualifications at a hotel in Dhaka, the state minister said a coordinated initiative would be taken involving government and private educational institutions.
The initiative would focus on curriculum, infrastructure, teacher training and the use of technology, according to a press release.
“We do not want to merely follow the best practices of the world. We dream of a day when other countries of the world will follow the best practices of Bangladesh’s education system,” Bobby said.
He said the government was ready to invest the necessary time, money and hard work to achieve the goal.
Whether a student studies in Bangla, English or another stream, there should be a common standard for basic knowledge and skills, he said.
While differences between good and comparatively less good institutions would remain, there should not be major disparities in curriculum or the basic standard of education, Bobby said.
He stressed the need for quick reforms in the fundamentals of primary education, including clear minimum standards for school hours, effective learning hours, classroom size and student numbers, infrastructure and trained teachers.
“No teacher should be given charge of a classroom without any training,” he said.
The state minister also stressed technology and modern teaching methods, saying activity-based learning and learning through play would receive greater emphasis in primary education.
At the same time, he said the government wanted to learn from the existing experience of English-medium schools, particularly their effective use of Learning Management Systems.
On the new curriculum, Bobby said all stakeholders should have the opportunity to contribute.
“We do not want anyone to say that they were not consulted,” he said, adding that the government wanted to move forward by taking everyone’s experience and opinions into account.
He said the government was working to create a level playing field for all educational institutions through coordinated initiatives in curriculum, infrastructure, teacher training and technology.
The event was presided over by Oxford AQA Country Director for Bangladesh and Nepal Shaheen Reza, while University Grants Commission member Professor Dr Abdullah Al Mamun attended as the special guest.
Representatives of the British High Commission and the British Council, along with principals of various English-medium educational institutions in Dhaka, were present.
