Prime Minister's Education Adviser Mahdi Amin on Thursday said the government plans to introduce two new subjects each in class IV and VI from the next academic year.
Speaking at a press conference at the Education Ministry's conference room at the Bangladesh Secretariat, he said the initiative is part of the government's efforts to build a more holistic and skills-oriented education system.
Under the plan, 'Sports' and 'Culture' will be introduced in class-IV at the primary level, while 'Learning with Happiness' and 'Technical and Vocational Education' will be added to the class-VI curriculum, he said.
Mahdi Amin said the government has undertaken an extensive action plan to transform the education system from being merely certificate-oriented into one that fosters moral values, social responsibility, creativity, sportsmanship, cultural awareness and employable skills.
He said the incumbent government's goal is to establish an education system that ensures equity, fairness and equal opportunities for all learners.
"Efforts are underway to reduce the existing disparities between urban and rural education and ensure quality education for every child," the adviser said.
Referring to the government's vision for an education system that goes beyond examination results and academic certificates, he stressed the importance of nurturing civic values, social responsibility, ethics, family values and discipline among students.
The education adviser also emphasized co-curricular activities, including Girls' Guides, Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) and Rover Scouts, saying these should receive greater emphasis in schools, colleges and universities across the country.
He said a wide range of activities, including sports, cultural programmes, debates, science fairs, entrepreneurship development initiatives, innovation programmes and various competitions, are being organized nationwide to enhance students' creativity and leadership qualities.
"The primary objective of these programmes is to nurture teamwork, leadership, discipline, interpersonal communication and career-oriented skills among students," Amin added.
The adviser also stressed the gradual establishment of laboratories in educational institutions from Class VIII onward to facilitate technical and vocational education.
He said opportunities for internships, apprenticeships and hands-on learning would be expanded to make education more relevant to real-life needs and better prepare students for future careers.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
