Primary education will be extended up to eighth grade, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj has said.
He made the announcement on Wednesday at a programme held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Agargaon, Dhaka, organised to promote a mass literacy campaign and discuss budget allocation for the education sector.
The state minister said the government plans to gradually expand free education for children aged 4 to 13, bringing classes up to grade eight under the primary level.
Previously, 729 government primary schools operated up to eighth grade. However, classes VI to VIII were later excluded during the interim government period.
Bobby Hajjaj said the current government is working to reinstate and expand primary education up to grade eight in phases.