Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon today said it is not enough to just study traditional education centered on GPA-5, but students should be developed as world-class citizens.
“Our main goal is to convert the conventional education system into a modern and scientific one, so that students can sustain in international competition,” he said.
The education minister made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the ‘China-Bangladesh Education Cooperation Forum-2026’ at the International Mother Language Institute here.
The event was organised by the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka and managed by the China-Bangladesh Education and Cultural Exchange Association.
Highlighting the limitations of the country’s current education system, Milon said, “We do not have the necessary coordination or collaboration between industry and universities. This gap needs to be bridged. We want to transform our vast manpower into skilled human resources who can directly face the challenges of employment.”
“We have not yet reached the desired goal of ensuring quality education. However, the incumbent government will do whatever is necessary to achieve this goal.
My call to teachers is that we cannot sit all year and only take exams at the end of the year. We must ensure teaching and proper evaluation in the classroom every day,” he said.
Referring to the opportunities for higher education in China, the education minister said the Chinese education system is advanced and it is not very expensive. Currently, about 16,000 Bangladeshi students are studying there successfully, he said.
To face the challenges of globalisation, ‘third language’ education should be made mandatory from the government, he said.
Especially, he said, learning Chinese will open a huge door to the international labour market and higher education for students.
Milon further said the government is already making changes to the curriculum and academic calendar to ensure quality education. Initiatives are being taken to improve the skills of teachers through education and technical training programmes with China, he said.
The event was presided over by Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen. Prime Minister’s Education Adviser Dr Mahdi Amin spoke as a special guest.
Secretary of Secondary and Higher Education Division Abdul Khaleque, Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed, BUET Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr ABM Badruzzaman and Director General of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education Professor Dr Khan Moinuddin Al Mahmud Sohel also spoke.
Senior education officials from the two countries, eminent educationists and representatives of different universities from China and Bangladesh were present.
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