Lecture on Education in Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised a lecture under its Eminent Persons Lecture Programme (EPLP) titled "Education in Bangladesh: Present State, Challenges and Future Outlook" on 21 September 2010 at the BIISS Auditorium.

The lecture was delivered by Mr Nurul Islam Nahid, MP, Honourable Minister, Ministry of Education, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, as the Guest Speaker. Major General Golam Mohammad, nwc, psc, Director General of BIISS, delivered the welcome address, while Major General Muhammed Firdaus Mian, psc, Chairman of the Board of Governors, BIISS, chaired the session.

The programme brought together senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, policymakers, academics, researchers, educationists, representatives of civil society, business leaders, media professionals, and students to discuss the achievements, challenges, and future priorities of Bangladesh's education sector.

In his lecture, Mr Nurul Islam Nahid presented a comprehensive overview of the state of education in Bangladesh, highlighting the progress made in expanding access to education, increasing enrolment rates, reducing gender disparities, and improving literacy across the country. He noted that education remains a fundamental driver of national development and human capital formation, playing a vital role in poverty reduction, economic growth, and social transformation.

The Guest Speaker also discussed the major challenges confronting the education sector, including improving the quality of education, strengthening teacher training, modernising curricula, enhancing technical and vocational education, expanding higher education opportunities, integrating information and communication technology (ICT), and ensuring equitable access to quality education for all. He emphasised that sustained investment in education and effective policy implementation are essential for preparing Bangladesh's youth to meet the demands of a rapidly changing global economy.

Mr Nahid further outlined the government's future vision for educational reform, focusing on developing a knowledge-based society through innovation, skills development, research, digital learning, and institutional capacity building. He stressed the importance of collaboration among government institutions, educational organisations, the private sector, civil society, and development partners to achieve inclusive, quality education and support Bangladesh's long-term socio-economic development.

The lecture was followed by an engaging interactive question-and-answer session, during which participants from academia, the media, government agencies, diplomatic missions, business communities, civil society organisations, and other professional groups actively exchanged views with the Guest Speaker. The discussion generated valuable questions, comments, suggestions, and recommendations on education policy, governance, quality assurance, human resource development, and future reform priorities.

The programme concluded with a reaffirmation of the critical role of education in achieving sustainable national development and building a skilled, innovative, and inclusive society. The lecture provided an important platform for informed dialogue on Bangladesh's education sector and reinforced BIISS's commitment to promoting discussions on key national policy issues through its Eminent Persons Lecture Programme.