State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj on Thursday said the government considers the education sector a national investment and is prioritising the strengthening of primary education.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has clearly stated in the election manifesto that education will receive the highest priority, he said.
The state minister made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a meeting titled “Remedial Education: Work-Experience and Future Thoughts” at the Bangladesh Tourism Corporation conference room in Agargaon.
The programme was organised by the Mass Literacy Campaign.
The desired learning skills have not yet been achieved in the country’s primary education system, said State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj.
“Although many students are present in classrooms, a large section of them are not acquiring class-appropriate skills,” he said.
He said the government is preparing a special action plan to support backward students.
The government’s goal is to strengthen the basic learning foundation of children aged between four and 10 years at pre-primary and primary levels, he added. However, many students in class-III are still failing to acquire the skills required for their grade, he said.
According to the National Student Assessment (NSA), around 50 per cent of students are lagging behind, he added. The state minister said special support programmes would be introduced for students dropping out or struggling to continue with classroom learning.
Plans are also being made to reduce learning deficits through learning circles, community engagement, parental participation and technology-based content, he said.
Eminent educationist Rasheda K Chowdhury
