The government will overhaul the primary school curriculum as part of a broader reform agenda to bridge learning gaps and develop a world-class primary education system, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj said on Monday.
He said the government has adopted an integrated, long-term strategy to increase school attendance, improve learning outcomes and enhance the overall quality of primary education.
"As part of this initiative, we are simultaneously introducing technology-enabled classrooms, redesigning the curriculum, formulating a comprehensive teacher development policy and upgrading school infrastructure," he said, adding that the government is also distributing free school uniforms to students.
He made the remarks while speaking to reporters at Agargaon Taltola Government Primary School after visiting several government primary schools under the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) area.
The state minister said he has been visiting government primary schools across the country over the past four months to assess classroom conditions, teaching standards and students' learning outcomes firsthand.
He said a special initiative has also been launched to evaluate the infrastructure, classroom environment and academic activities of government primary schools in Dhaka. Under the ongoing spectacular project, authorities are conducting field-level assessments to identify deficiencies and accelerate the modernisation of schools in the capital.
Reflecting on his visits, Bobby Hajjaj said he did not conduct formal classes but engaged students through conversations and interactive learning activities to gauge their academic progress.
"Most students are performing well, although some continue to lag behind in specific subjects. Teachers have been instructed to provide targeted support to those students to help them overcome their learning gaps," he said.
The state minister said the existing curriculum is being restructured to make it simpler, more practical and learner-centred.
He added that the government is making substantial progress in formulating a comprehensive teacher policy covering recruitment, training, professional development, performance evaluation, responsibilities, supervision and institutional training mechanisms at the upazila and district levels.
As part of efforts to strengthen technology-driven education, the government plans to introduce video lessons, smart classrooms, interactive flat-panel displays, real-time assessment systems and modern remedial learning methods to identify and address students' learning deficiencies.
"Our objective extends beyond improving infrastructure. We are committed to bringing about a fundamental transformation in the quality of primary education by integrating students, teachers, administration, technology and curriculum into a cohesive system that meets global standards," Hajjaj said.