Experts call for stronger govt, civil society collaboration to transform primary education

Experts have stressed the importance of strengthening collaboration between the government and non-government organisations to achieve the goals of the Fifth Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP-5).

The call was made at the “GO–NGO Collaboration Dialogue: Strengthening Partnerships and Coordination for Transformative Primary Education under PEDP-5”, organised jointly by the Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) and BRAC on Monday at BRAC Centre in Dhaka, said a press release.

During the event, the experts focused on some key priorities which include: developing a structured GO–NGO collaboration framework; accelerating foundational literacy and numeracy outcomes; expanding support for inclusive, climate-resilient and digital learning; strengthening education services in hard-to-reach areas; integrating NGO data into national systems; and enhancing disaster preparedness, health, nutrition and WASH initiatives in primary schools.

The chief guest at the event was Bobby Hajjaj, state minister for Primary and Mass Education. Shahina Ferdousi, director general of Directorate of Primary Education, chaired the event, while Farid Ahmed, director general of National Academy for Primary Education (NAPE) and chairman of Diploma in Primary Education (DPEd) Board, and Md Abdur Rahim, additional director general of Directorate of Primary Education, attended as special guests.

Mohammad Atiqur Rahaman, additional director general (PEDP4) of Directorate of Primary Education, provided the keynote presentation and KAM Morshed, senior director of advocacy, communications and engagement at BRAC, moderated the question-and-answer session after the keynote address.

Safi Rahman Khan, director of education, skills development and migration at BRAC, provided the welcome address.

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In his address as chief guest, Bobby Hajjaj emphasised the government's commitment to improving learning outcomes through stronger collaboration with NGOs and other stakeholders. He identified five key areas requiring joint action under PEDP-5 including curriculum, teachers, administration, infrastructure, and technology.

He noted that the programme would be implemented through a range of targeted projects to advance these priorities.

He observed that while Bangladesh had made significant progress in primary education, considerable work remained to ensure quality learning for all children. Stressing that learning outcomes must remain at the centre of reform efforts, he highlighted the importance of delivering quality education at scale while making the system increasingly inclusive.

He also underscored the value of NGO partnerships in responding to emerging challenges, noting that NGOs' flexibility and community reach complement the government's broader institutional capacity.

The state minister further highlighted the need for scalable, sustainable approaches capable of delivering long-term improvements across the primary education system.

Speaking as chair of the event, Shahina Ferdousi described NGOs as key partners in extending the reach of education services at the grassroots level. She noted that collaboration with NGOs is integral to policy development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.

Speaking as a special guest, Farid Ahmed emphasised that stronger government–NGO collaboration offers valuable opportunities to share knowledge, experience and best practices across the education sector. He noted that while NGOs have long contributed to improving education at the grassroots level, the success of all interventions ultimately depends on their impact in the classroom.

Speaking as a special guest, Md Abdur Rahim said that every parent hopes to see their child complete primary education successfully and progress confidently to secondary school. He emphasised the importance of working together to realise this shared aspiration and called for continued collaboration and support from all stakeholders to ensure better educational outcomes for every child.

Syed Rashed Al-Zayed, senior economist at the World Bank, and Dr Mostafizur Rahman, deputy director of Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE), shared their views, while the vote of thanks was provided by Md Ataur Rahman, deputy-project director (PEDP4) of Directorate of Primary Education.

A session on collaborative planning and consensus building was moderated by Md Moazzem Hossain, programme head of development at BRAC Education Programme. Ahsania Mission, B-SCAN, Educo Bangladesh, Actionaid Bangladesh, World Vision, Save the Children, BIED, and other organisations participated in the session.