The Standing Committee on the Ministry of Education of the National Parliament has put forward a set of recommendations aimed at bringing qualitative changes to the country’s education system. As part of these efforts, the government has initiated a plan to provide laptops to approximately 40,000 students who achieve Golden GPA in 2026, and to bring 7 million female students under a BDT 4,000 crore scholarship program. Concurrently, the process has begun to directly deposit the long-standing arrears of approximately 70,000 retired teachers and staff into their bank accounts.
These details emerged from the minutes of the first meeting of the Standing Committee on the Ministry of Education of the Thirteenth National Parliament, held on September 10 at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban (National Parliament House).
During the meeting, emphasis was placed on reforming the conventional evaluation system, assessing student learning outcomes according to international standards, expanding technical education, and ensuring transparency and accountability in the education sector to guarantee the quality of education.
Committee members believe that the true progress of education cannot be determined merely by the competition to increase pass rates. For this reason, it is crucial to introduce year-based specific evaluation methods, alongside developing modern and up-to-date curricula.
40,000 Students to Receive Laptops, 7 Million Female Students Under Scholarship Program
At the meeting, Abdul Khalek, Senior Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, announced that a proposed budget of BDT 57,301.68 crore has been allocated for the Secondary and Higher Education Division for the 2026-27 fiscal year. This marks a 42.7 percent increase compared to the previous revised budget.
With the aim of developing students’ technological skills and talents, a decision has been made to provide one laptop each to approximately 40,000 students who achieve Golden GPA in 2026.
Concurrently, an initiative has been launched to bring 7 million female students across the country under a BDT 4,000 crore scholarship program to promote women’s education and prevent dropout from educational institutions.
Arrears of 70,000 Retired Teachers Directly to Bank Accounts
The government has also taken special initiatives to resolve the long-standing financial crises of teachers and staff.
According to the parliamentary committee’s minutes, the process of sending arrears for approximately 70,000 retired teachers and staff directly to their bank accounts has commenced through Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) and the iBAS++ system.
It has been announced that, in the initial phase, each teacher will receive an average of BDT five lakh.
Furthermore, the meeting minutes state that Prime Minister Tareque Rahman has provided special financial assistance of BDT two thousand crore to resolve issues related to the welfare trust and retirement benefits of retired teachers and staff.
For this initiative, the parliamentary committee members unanimously thanked and expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister.
Additionally, it was recommended to prepare separate lists for the swift payment of arrears to retired teachers who are Hajj pilgrims or suffering from incurable diseases.
Emphasis on Real Quality of Education, Not Pass Rate
The meeting included a detailed discussion on the evaluation system of the country’s conventional education system. Members stated that the success of education should not be judged merely by the number of students who pass examinations. Instead, the core basis of evaluation should be how much students are actually learning and how effectively they can apply their acquired knowledge in real life.
In this regard, parliamentary committee chairman Md. Selim Bhuiyan said that the previous government prioritized pass rates and numerical successes over the qualitative standard of education. The current government aims to move away from that trend and ensure truly quality education.
He added that there is no alternative to introducing year-based evaluations and modern curricula to align the country’s students with international standards.
He further commented that it is necessary to introduce a system for assessing student learning outcomes every three or six months, rather than being limited to just annual evaluations.
The committee chairman also stated that detailed recommendations for improving the quality of education will be made in subsequent meetings. Concurrently, a press conference will be organized to present the future roadmap for the education sector.
Proposal to Bring Stability in Education Policy
During the parliamentary committee meeting, a proposal was made to formulate a long-term and stable national education plan, modeled after Malaysia’s education system.
According to committee members, frequent changes should not be made to the fundamental structure of education policy, curriculum, and textbooks merely because of changes in government or responsible individuals within the ministry.
This disrupts the continuity of the education system and creates additional pressure on students and teachers.
Committee member Reza Kibria stated that it is crucial to introduce specific year-based evaluation methods to strengthen the position of the country’s students in important subjects like Mathematics and Science against international standards.
Recommendation for Rapid MPO Enlistment
At the meeting, it was recommended to swiftly bring under MPO (Monthly Payment Order) those educational institutions that meet all conditions for MPO enlistment, as well as veteran teachers who have been teaching without salary for a long time.
They emphasized eliminating administrative complexities and delays in file processing within the Ministry of Education to foster a teacher-friendly environment.
Furthermore, discussions also took place regarding identifying and resolving the problems of educational institutions that faced discrimination due to political reasons in the past.
Why are Secondary Students Declining? Research to be Conducted
The parliamentary committee also expressed concern over the decreasing number of students at the secondary level in the country.
It was stated at the meeting that the number of students at the secondary level has significantly decreased in the past. However, it is necessary to identify through reliable research where these students are going, why they are leaving educational institutions, and what they are currently doing.
For this purpose, a comprehensive research program has been recommended.
Based on the research findings, emphasis was placed on taking effective measures to prevent student dropouts and increase participation in secondary education.
Target: 30% Enrollment in Technical Education by 2030
The parliamentary committee has also given special importance to the expansion of technical education.
At the meeting, Shamsur Rahman Khan, Secretary (Routine Duty) of the Technical and Madrasah Education Division, announced that the enrollment rate in technical education in the country has reached 19.16 percent by 2025.
The government is working with the goal of progressively increasing this rate to 30 percent by 2030.
The meeting emphasized the need to make technical education more modern and up-to-date to promote vocational education, create skilled manpower, and meet the demands of the country’s labor market.
MPs to Inspect Educational Institutions
To ensure the proper utilization of allocated funds in the education sector, prevent irregularities and corruption, and monitor the quality of education, members of the parliamentary committee will directly inspect various schools and colleges.
Furthermore, it has been decided to ensure the physical presence of the heads of National University, Education Boards, and relevant directorates and departments at the committee’s subsequent meetings.
Seven-Point Recommendations for Education Quality Improvement
At the meeting, the parliamentary committee made seven-point recommendations for the overall development of the education system.
The recommendations include developing a year-based education quality measurement system according to international standards, ensuring transparent utilization of allocations in the education sector, inspection of educational institutions by parliamentary committee members, and regular review of activities in the presence of relevant department heads.
Additionally, it was recommended to prioritize the payment of arrears to teachers who are Hajj pilgrims or suffering from incurable diseases, and to expedite the payment of retirement benefits and other outstanding allowances as per budget provisions.
According to the parliamentary committee, if these initiatives are effectively implemented, positive changes can be brought about in improving the quality of education, ensuring financial security for teachers and staff, and establishing transparency and accountability in educational institutions.
