The Bangladesh government intends to increase the national education budget in the coming fiscal cycles, but officials warn that financial expansion must be met with rigorous spending prioritisation.
Speaking on Saturday at the Rajshahi Polytechnic Institute, Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon emphasised that simply increasing funds is insufficient without a strategic framework for resource allocation. Addressing the Regional Skills and Innovation Competition at the Shaheed Osman Bin Hadi Auditorium, he stated that determining “where and how that money will be spent” is now the primary challenge for the administration.
The minister underscored that there is no alternative to setting the right priorities in spending if the country is to see a tangible improvement in the quality of education. During a direct exchange with students and teachers, the full scope of systemic challenges was laid bare.
Attendees highlighted several critical bottlenecks, including irregular class schedules, significant delays in holding examinations, and a growing disconnect between the established curriculum and the teaching syllabus. Dr A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon used the forum to gather first-hand data on why students are falling behind and to explore methods for ensuring a more robust educational output.
Technical education has emerged as the cornerstone of the government’s new reform agenda. The minister confirmed that the prime minister has already granted top priority to this sector, viewing it as a vehicle for economic transformation. He warned that technical education must not be neglected under any circumstances, asserting that the nation must “bring about a new revolution” through vocational and skill-based learning. This shift in policy signals a departure from traditional academic focuses, aiming instead to align the workforce with global industrial demands.
Accountability across the hierarchy remains a non-negotiable requirement for the ministry’s success. Dr A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon called for a collective effort in nation-building, insisting that the ministry, teachers, and all relevant stakeholders remain answerable for the development of the system. “Special emphasis has been placed on technical education,” he noted, while urging every official to play a responsible role in the broader reform process.
The seminar featured contributions from several high-ranking officials, including Technical and Madrasah Education Division Secretary Md Daud Mia and the Director General of the Directorate of Technical Education, Abul Khair Akkas Ali. Divisional Commissioner Dr A N M Bazlur Rashid and Rajshahi Polytechnic Institute Principal Abu Hanif also participated in the discussions. The consensus among the leadership was clear: while more capital is coming, the era of unvetted spending is over, replaced by a mandate for efficiency and technical excellence.
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