Bangladesh has called on UNESCO to adopt appropriate strategies to keep pace with artificial intelligence (AI)-driven systems and consider regulating the use of AI within its areas of work for the benefit of future generations.
Secondary and Higher Education Division Secretary Abdul Khaleque presented Bangladesh’s national statement at the 225th session of the UNESCO Executive Board at the organisation’s headquarters in Paris, France, on Thursday.
The session was chaired by Nasser bin Hamad Al Hinzab of Qatar, president of the UNESCO Executive Board.
In his statement, Abdul Khaleque said UNESCO needed to adopt appropriate strategies to keep pace with AI-driven systems. He also said the organisation should consider initiating a process to regulate the use of AI within its areas of work in the interests of future generations.
He further said the government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, was taking practical steps to remove existing barriers to education.
Increasing school enrolment and ensuring that students attend school and continue their studies from the earliest stages of education are the government’s highest priorities, he said.
Abdul Khaleque said modern education helps develop well-rounded citizens with diverse qualities. In this regard, Bangladesh had taken the initiative to include sports as a formal subject in its national curriculum.
He added that the country had also been able to involve more than two million students through nationwide youth sports competitions.
Promoting multilingual education with a focus on mother tongues and strengthening the foundations of primary education are also among Bangladesh’s priorities, he said.
He added that the government was placing particular emphasis on nutrition and social support frameworks, ensuring inclusive education for marginalised communities in climate-vulnerable areas, expanding technical and vocational education and training (TVET), and empowering women through free education.
