State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj on Sunday painted a stark picture of Bangladesh’s education system, arguing that years of neglect have severely weakened academic standards and left students struggling to compete internationally.
Speaking during the general discussion on the supplementary budget for fiscal year 2025-26 in Parliament, Bobby Hajjaj said the shortcomings of the education sector have become increasingly visible, particularly in the performance of students seeking admission to universities. The parliamentary session was chaired by Deputy Speaker Kaikar Kamal.
The state minister claimed that the country's higher secondary level of education has fallen far behind international benchmarks. Referring to Singapore as an example, he said Bangladesh’s Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) standard is often considered comparable to the level taught in class six there.
According to Bobby, the situation is the result of nearly two decades of mismanagement and insufficient attention to the education sector. He said the government has already begun a broad reform programme under the direction of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to address longstanding weaknesses.
The reform efforts, he noted, cover multiple areas, including curriculum development, teacher training and quality improvement, educational infrastructure, and administrative restructuring. He described the proposed budget as people-oriented and said it reflects a long-term vision for building a stronger and more competitive Bangladesh.
Highlighting the government's commitment to education, Bobby said the sector has received its highest-ever priority in the budget. He noted that spending on education, which previously stood at around 1.3 to 1.4 per cent of GDP, has now been increased to 2 per cent, with plans to gradually raise it to 5 per cent.
The state minister also announced plans to introduce sports and cultural education from classes four and five, saying such initiatives are essential for the holistic development of children.
He criticised what he described as negative campaigns against cultural education and urged political opponents to offer constructive criticism rather than obstruct efforts aimed at improving the country's future.
Expressing optimism about the reform agenda, Bobby Hajjaj said the government's goal is to transform Bangladesh’s education system into one that can compete with and earn recognition from the best in the world.
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