83,000 cases pending in education sector: Education Minister

Education Minister A. N. M. Ehsanul Haque Milon has said that although multiple initiatives have been taken to develop the education sector, many of them cannot be implemented due to legal complications. He noted that around 83,000 cases are currently pending in the education sector, which is severely hampering the teacher recruitment process.

He made these remarks on Sunday morning while inaugurating a workshop titled “Analysis of Bangladesh’s Education Sector” held in Banani, Dhaka. Primary and Mass Education State Minister Bobby Hajjaj attended the event as a special guest.

The Education Minister said the government is working to make learning more enjoyable for students. To that end, sports and cultural education are being integrated into the curriculum. He added that various projects, including school uniforms and mid-day meals, have been undertaken to reduce dropout rates at the primary level. Special attention is also being given to solving sanitation problems in schools.

Regarding the education budget, he said the current government has allocated the highest education budget in history, amounting to 2 percent of the total national budget. However, he acknowledged that learning outcomes are still not satisfactory and said efforts are underway to identify and address the problems. He also warned that child marriage will not be tolerated anywhere in the country.

In his speech, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj said that steps are being taken to integrate primary, secondary, higher secondary, and tertiary education into a unified framework. The government is committed to reducing the cost of primary education. He said pre-primary classes will be introduced in all schools, and plans are in place to implement key primary education development initiatives within 180 days.

He further stated that by next year, the government plans to provide mid-day meals, uniforms, school bags, and shoes to primary school students. Noting that many parents are turning to private kindergartens due to a lack of confidence in the quality of public primary education, he said efforts are being made to improve standards. He added that education expenditure will now be assessed based on outcomes.

On teacher transfers, he said a large syndicate had previously controlled the transfer system, but henceforth transfers of primary-level teachers will be handled by local administrations. He also said that within two years, no teacher will be allowed to enter classrooms without training.

He added that a new curriculum will make sports and cultural education mandatory at the primary level by 2027. A dedicated school calendar will also be introduced for primary schools. Overall, he said the government is working to overhaul the curriculum, teachers, infrastructure, and administrative systems, and that this year’s budget reflects what he described as a more appropriate allocation for the education sector.