Newly appointed Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milan has said Bangladesh’s education sector needs “big leaps” to restore stability and inject fresh dynamism into the system.
Speaking to journalists on his first working day at the Secretariat on Wednesday, Milan said the sector requires urgent, coordinated action to restore quality, discipline and long-term direction.
He stressed that education must be treated as a national priority if Bangladesh is to compete globally.
Reflecting on past reforms, the minister recalled that when the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) assumed office in 2001, decisive measures were introduced to curb cheating in public examinations and prevent question paper leaks. Those steps, he said, helped restore credibility to the examination system.
“Those practices were stopped at that time, and I do not believe they will return,” he added, expressing confidence that strong oversight can once again safeguard academic integrity.
Milan outlined plans for a comprehensive review of the existing curriculum to ensure it aligns with present-day realities and future demands.
Emphasis will be placed on strengthening digital literacy and improving English proficiency, two areas he described as essential for global competitiveness.
He also announced initiatives to introduce emerging subjects connected to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including artificial intelligence, robotics and nanotechnology, so students are better prepared for rapidly evolving job markets.
The minister acknowledged that education has not received adequate attention in past budgets, with allocations hovering around two per cent of GDP. To achieve meaningful transformation, he argued, spending should be increased to at least five to six per cent of GDP.
Without bold reforms and greater investment, Milan warned, the sector will struggle to deliver the skilled workforce and innovative capacity the country needs.
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