PM: Govt aims to make teaching first choice for top talent

“Teaching can never be a profession of last resort or merely another job,” he said, addressing a World Teachers’ Day ceremony at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka.
“We are reshaping teacher recruitment and the education system to ensure that the most meritorious people choose teaching as their first choice of profession.”
The prime minister also pledged measures to raise teachers’ dignity, improve their financial security and modernise education as he honoured 102 teachers with the national ‘Eminent Teacher Award’.
He said the dignity of teachers was closely linked to the dignity of the state and urged educators to become role models who could prepare students to face global challenges.
The government was also working to shift education away from rote learning towards curiosity, practical skills and technology, he said.
“Instead of mere memorisation, we have to raise the questions of ‘why’ and ‘how’ in the minds of students. If curiosity is created, a student can become his or her own teacher,” Tarique Rahman said.
He said artificial intelligence and rapid advances in information technology were creating both opportunities and challenges for education. Technical and practical knowledge was increasingly important, he added, while teacher training institutions needed to be modernised.

“We do not want to see technology as a substitute for teachers. Rather, technology will be the strength of teachers,” he said.
The government is advancing its “One Teacher, One Tab” programme, under which teachers will have access to digital lesson plans, question banks, student learning data and other teaching materials.
Multimedia classrooms are also being expanded and free Wi-Fi facilities increased at educational institutions across the country, he said.
The prime minister said a new curriculum had been formulated and textbooks based on it would be provided within this year. The Ministry of Education has also introduced a sixth-grade book, “Learning with Happiness”, with similar books to be rolled out for other grades in phases.

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Tarique Rahman said the government wanted an education system in which no child was deprived of schooling and students who dropped out would not be left without employment opportunities.
He described education as the government’s biggest priority and said the national budget had made the country’s highest-ever allocation for education, with funding to increase gradually.
Bangladesh has around 21,000 secondary-level institutions and more than 300,000 teachers serving millions of students, he said, noting that much of secondary education depends on private and MPO-listed institutions.
“There is still some disparity between urban and rural areas in terms of educational opportunities,” he said, adding that the government planned to ensure access to skilled teachers and modern technology in both areas.
He identified equal opportunity, quality education and non-discriminatory access as the core principles of the government’s education reforms.
While employment-oriented education was important, he said, education should also develop character and moral values.
“If knowledge is not linked with morality, it can become a cause of harm rather than benefit to society,” he said, urging teachers to instil truthfulness, responsibility, empathy, patriotism, humanity, discipline and respect for others.
Teachers’ welfare
The prime minister said the government was taking steps to 
make teaching a more dignified and competitive profession, particularly at the primary, secondary and higher-secondary levels.
He said teachers would also receive greater recognition at state functions. From this year, authorities have been instructed to ensure that at least one primary and one secondary school teacher are invited to national events such as Independence Day and Victory Day.
“A teacher, whether serving or retired, remains worthy of the state’s respect throughout his or her life because of the noble profession,” he said.

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The government had also instructed authorities to end harassment of teachers over salaries and retirement benefits, he said.
“A teacher should not have to visit offices and suffer hardship merely to receive salary or retirement benefits,” Tarique Rahman said. “The money due to a teacher must reach their bank account on time and in accordance with the rules.”
102 teachers honoured
The government honoured 102 eminent teachers for their contributions to education and nation-building. Each received a certificate, crest and Tk200,000 cheque from the prime minister.
The recipients included 10 primary-level teachers, 20 secondary teachers, 25 college teachers, 20 from general universities, 10 from medical colleges and universities, three from agricultural universities, three from engineering universities and four from other specialised universities. Seven teachers selected by the prime minister were also honoured.
World Teachers’ Day is observed globally on 5 October to recognise teachers’ contribution to society and highlight their dignity, rights and professional development.
Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon chaired the ceremony. National Professor Dr Mahbub Ullah, Prime Minister’s Office Spokesperson Mahdi Amin, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj and parliamentary standing committee chairman Md Selim Bhuiyan also addressed the event.

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