Building “Bangladesh First”: The Urgent Necessity of an Education Master Plan

Advocate Mir Halim : The fundamental progress of a nation rests upon the quality of its human capital, not its natural resources. In an era defined by rapid global shifts and the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, conventional, piecemeal education reforms are no longer sufficient. To realize the “Bangladesh First” vision championed by Honorable Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, and to remain competitive in the 21st century, the formulation of a far-reaching, sustainable, and science-based “Bangladesh Education Master Plan” is imperative.

A Master Plan serves as the essential safeguard for a nation’s existence and prosperity, a scientific roadmap for an unwavering long-term vision. Unlike fragmented reforms, an integrated, data-driven blueprint prevents resource wastage, eliminates administrative chaos, and fosters political stability. In the context of education, this is the hour’s greatest need: to elevate learning above political expediency and transform it into an unshakeable national commitment. Its vision must be to cultivate a meritocratic and values-driven generation, empowered by innovation to lead Bangladesh on the global stage.

Looking back at the last five decades, several commissions and committees were formed to modernize the education system, each reflecting the development aspirations and political ideologies of their respective eras. Following independence, led by the Awami League government, the 1972 Kudrat-e-Khuda Commission emphasized secularism and vocational training but was criticized for overlooking public aspirations, religious values, and national identity.

Also Read : 𝗗𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗘𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗵 : Constitutional Meaning, Statutory Limits, and Judicial Enforcement

After the political transition in 1975, the government of BNP, led by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, formed an Education Advisory Council led by Shamsul Haq in 1979. This council synthesized public aspirations, nationalism, and religious values, promoting mass education, administrative decentralization, and the integration of Islamic values with general education.

Subsequent decades saw further shifts. Led by Lt. Gen. Hossain Mohammad Ershad, the 1987 Majid Khan Commission focused on administrative reform but faced intense student resistance. Later, the Awami League government enacted the 2000 Education Policy based on secularism. This was again corrected by the BNP–Jamaat government’s 2003 Education Policy, rooted in the Moniruzzaman Mia Commission, which combined “Bangladeshi Nationalism” with religious values. Most recently, led by the Awami League government, the 2010 policy attempted to modernize the system but was perceived by many as an assault on national and religious identity.

The most controversial shift occurred with the 2023 “New National Curriculum,” again led by the Awami League government. By abolishing the Science, Arts, and Commerce streams in Grades IX and X and introducing a contentious continuous assessment system, educational standards plummeted. This led to a decline in university rankings, increased unemployment, and a disconnect from global market demands. The resulting public frustration became a catalyst for the mass uprising of July 2024.

Also Read : The Supreme Court Secretariat and Challenges

Following the political change, the Interim Government led by Muhammad Yunus reinstated the stream-based system and began restoring transparency in evaluations. However, these remain temporary fixes. Now is the historic moment to bridge past gaps, ensure continuity, and solidify our ideological foundation.

Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman was the visionary architect of this foundation. The seeds of mass and technical education he sowed in 1979 were further nurtured in the 2003 National Education Policy. The proposed “Bangladesh Education Master Plan” will be a modern iteration of that philosophy, standing on heritage while building the edifice of the future.

15 Pillars for Global Excellence

To survive and thrive, I propose fifteen strategic pillars for the Bangladesh Education Master Plan:

1. Socio-Cultural Context: Aligning education with Bangladesh’s history, religion, and culture while promoting research and vocational training.

2. Anticipating Global Challenges: Drafting policy to create citizens capable of meeting international intellectual and market standards.

3. Age Alignment (Graduation by 22): Synchronizing the 5+5+2+4 school structure to ensure students graduate by age 22, the global standard for workforce entry.

4. Modernizing Stream Divisions: Enhancing Science, Arts, and Commerce with lab dependency and market-responsive subjects.

5. Madrasah Integration: Reintroducing the 2003 Policy ideals to provide Madrasah students with Science and Vocational tracks for equal opportunity.

6. UK National Curriculum Model: Adopting GCSE/A-Level-style frameworks to foster analytical reasoning over rote memorization.

7. US-Style Innovation: Funding university R&D and encouraging critical thinking through specialized state funds.

8. Rwanda’s IT Leap: Implementing “One Laptop Per Child” and making coding mandatory from primary levels.

9. UN Official Languages: Requiring proficiency in one of the six UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, etc.) to ensure diplomatic and economic competitiveness.

10. Finland’s Teacher Empowerment: Attracting the top 5% of graduates to teaching through high social status, competitive pay, and professional autonomy.

11. Sri Lanka’s Investment Model: Ensuring non-partisan continuity in free education and nutritional support (school meals).

12. Germany’s Dual Education: Integrating theoretical study with direct industrial apprenticeships.

13. Japan’s Ethics-First Approach: Prioritizing moral and character building over exams up to Grade IV.

14. South Korea’s Meritocracy: Treating education as a national movement for poverty alleviation through national skill tests.

15. Singapore’s Industry Integration: Constantly updating curricula to match future job demands through corporate–academic partnerships.

Also Read : Book Review: Legal Terms & Terminology (Volumes 1 & 2)

We currently possess a rare synergy in our leadership. The modern dynamism of Education Minister A.N.M. Ehsanul Haque Milon and Minister of State Bobby Hajjaj, combined with the legacy of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, the uncompromising stature of Khaleda Zia, and the “I Have a Plan” vision of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, has created a historic opportunity—a door for future thinking.

The “Bangladesh Education Master Plan” is not merely a government document. It will be a charter for our national existence, our backbone, and our baseline for a new dawn. The world is watching. It is time to hand our children a future, not just a certificate.

Let this Master Plan be our first step toward a nation where we prioritize: “Education First, Bangladesh First.”

Writer: Mir Halim is an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and a Policy Analyst.