Problems and Possibilities of Our Education

Education has always been considered a fundamental force in the history of state formation, democracy and development thinking in Bangladesh. In the continuation of democratic practice, the area where the most crisis arises with the change of government is education and its practical aspects. Even after five decades of independence, there is a fear of such a crisis in our education system. The education crisis has become more acute due to the dictatorial government system for almost 17 years. Since independence, access to education has increased. In the natural process of education progress, the number of schools and universities has increased, but the relationship between education and quality, skills and employment is still weak. As a result, the need for a fundamental state reform centred on education is felt more than ever before. And this is a major crisis in education, which is a huge challenge for the government to deal with.
Since the formation of the new government through the elections on 12 February 2026, the government has had to take a very strong role in overcoming the education crisis among the government’s various activities to repair the state, which is very challenging. In addition, in the current political reality of Bangladesh, the government has faced a big challenge to make the education system modern, inclusive and skill-based. The education sector has been considered a central priority in the 31-point national reform plan and Vision 2030 announced by the BNP. The main goal of this plan is to free education from the influence of party politics, improve the quality of education and link education with skills and employment. To understand the current crisis in the education system of Bangladesh, it is necessary to look at statistics. According to recent data, the dropout rate at the secondary level is about 32.85 per cent and at the higher secondary level is about 21.51 per cent. That is, one out of every three students is disconnected from the education system before completing secondary education. At the same time, the net enrolment rate at the secondary level is about 72 per cent and at the higher secondary level is about 52 per cent. These statistics clearly show that despite the expansion of education, retaining students in education is still a major challenge.
Various social and economic factors are at work behind this situation. Poverty is still a major obstacle in the path of education. Many families cannot afford the cost of their children’s education, forcing children to enter the labour market. Child marriage is still a significant social problem in rural communities, resulting in many girls’ educational careers ending midway.

At the same time, aversion to education and lack of real-life connection with the curriculum also create disinterest among students. Many students are present in school but do not get the opportunity to learn in the real sense. According to the World Bank’s Human Capital Index, although Bangladeshi students attend school for an average of about 10 years, the equivalent time of effective learning is about 6 years. This reality shows that structural reform of the education system is very urgent. In many cases, education is still memorisation-based and exam-orientated. As a result, students do not get the opportunity to analyse or apply knowledge.
Another major problem in the education system of Bangladesh is the limitation of funding. In the recent budget, the allocation to the education sector is about 2 per cent of the GDP. However, according to international standards, education spending should be at least 4 to 6 per cent of the GDP for a developing country. Due to insufficient funding, school-college infrastructure development, teacher training and research activities are limited. Many schools still do not have enough classrooms, and there is a teacher shortage in many places. The lack of modern educational materials and technology also affects the quality of education. The main foundation of a strong education system is skilled teachers. However, recently, the current education minister expressed in a message that more allocation will be made to the education sector in the coming academic year. I think this is one of the steps to resolve the education crisis. 
The lack of coordination between education and the labour market is another major. Although thousands of students graduate from universities every year, many of them do not find employment. One of the main reasons for this is the weak connection between the education system and the industry as well as technology sectors. The world has entered the era of the Fifth Industrial Revolution. Artificial intelligence, robotics, data science and cybersecurity are determining the future economy. Therefore, students should be given not only theoretical knowledge but also technical skills and innovative thinking opportunities. If technical education is introduced from the secondary level, students will be able to acquire skills quickly.
Many countries in the world have achieved rapid development through education reforms. Former Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew said, “The wealth of a nation lies in its people.” That is, the real wealth of a country is its people. The most powerful means of transforming these people into skilled human resources is education. South Korea has also transformed from a poor country into a technological power through education reforms.
Another major challenge facing the education system of Bangladesh is climate change. Educational institutions often have to be closed due to heat waves, floods and cyclones. As a result, the education of millions of children is disrupted. In the future, it is very important to build climate-tolerant educational institutions and expand digital education.
The education system of Bangladesh is standing at an important juncture today. On the one hand, there are long-standing structural problems, and on the other hand, new technological and global challenges. If education can be made modern, skill-based and inclusive, then the young population of Bangladesh will become a strong human resource. Because history has repeatedly proven that a nation that invests in education wins the future. One of the main tasks of the current government must be to establish education on a strong foundation, which will free people from blindness and narrow-mindedness and transform them into a developed nation. To resolve all crises in education, not only political commitment but also national unity and a combination of religious and moral values are absolutely necessary. 

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The writer is CEO, EduVation Bangladesh, and Principal, Naafein International Academy, Dhaka