The government is integrating leadership and equal rights for girls into a new primary-level curriculum to ensure their empowerment begins in early childhood, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj announced on Tuesday.
Speaking at a seminar in the capital, the state minister emphasised that the revamped education system will move beyond rhetoric to practically incorporate values-based education, gender equality, life skills, and digital safety.
“To move Bangladesh forward, it is not enough to merely discuss women’s leadership; we must ensure these opportunities are part of a girl’s upbringing from childhood,” Bobby Hajjaj said during the event titled “Ensuring Safe and Equitable Digital Engagement for Adolescent Girls and Young Women.”
The seminar was jointly organised by BBC Media Action and JAGO Foundation at a hotel in Gulshan.
The state minister also took aim at societal “double standards” that hinder girls’ progress, particularly in athletics.
He noted that while the nation celebrates major sporting achievements by women, many often “frown” when girls play sports in their own schools and colleges. “We must move away from this double-standard behaviour,” he added.
Bobby Hajjaj further highlighted the need to revitalise “community engagement” in child development, noting that the traditional social supervision from neighbours and playgrounds has declined.
To address this, the Ministry has initiated discussions with Sri Lanka and Slovenia to study successful global models for values-based education and community involvement at the primary level.
Addressing digital concerns, he urged public to embrace technology positively rather than fearing it. He also underscored the importance of formulating effective policies and laws to ensure the correct use of digital platforms and to prevent digital harassment.
