Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon said on Wednesday that Bangladesh’s education system must be transformed to ensure employability, creativity and skills development among students, reports Daily Sun.
He made the remarks while addressing the plenary session of the Education World Forum 2026 in London, regarded as the world’s largest annual gathering of education ministers.
This year’s forum brought together around 150 education ministers from across the globe.
According to a press release, the minister said Bangladesh has returned to the path of democracy after a prolonged democratic deficit.
He said the government, under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, was elected with an overwhelming public mandate, carrying a clear responsibility to bring meaningful reforms to the education sector.
“One of the clearest messages from our people is that education must change,” Milon said.
“It must change so that our young people are not only educated, but employable. It must change so that our students do not only pass examinations, but acquire skills, confidence, creativity and values,” he added.
The minister said education should become a pathway to jobs, entrepreneurship, innovation and dignity.
Highlighting the concept of “learning with happiness,” he stressed the need to move away from rote memorisation towards an education system that nurtures curiosity, creativity, problem-solving abilities, values, sports, culture and emotional strength.
Milon also outlined the government’s plans to strengthen third-language instruction, integrate vocational and technical education at the secondary level, expand mid-day meal programmes and provide support materials such as uniforms, shoes and bags for students.
He further said the government aims to gradually increase education spending to 5% of the GDP.
On teachers and technology, the minister described teachers as leaders of change and highlighted the government’s “One Teacher, One Tab” initiative aimed at equipping educators with digital tools.
He said technology, including artificial intelligence, should support teachers and students and improve learning outcomes while reducing inequality instead of widening it.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
