Bangladesh has sought increased funding and technical assistance from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) to support ongoing reforms and new initiatives in the country’s primary education sector.
The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education disclosed the information on Thursday.
According to a press release, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj attended the GPE’s high-level conference, “Multiply Possibility: A New Era for Education Financing,” at the ECOSOC Chamber of the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday.
The conference was jointly organised by the Permanent Missions of Italy and Nigeria to the UN and the GPE.
Addressing the conference, Bobby Hajjaj said Bangladesh is working to ensure quality, inclusive and future-oriented primary education for every child.
“The government’s priority is no longer just ensuring children’s attendance at school, but also ensuring meaningful learning in classrooms and developing skills for the future,” he said.
He said international partnerships are crucial to achieving these goals, adding that Bangladesh expects greater financial and technical support from the GPE, a long-standing partner in the country’s education sector.
On the sidelines of the conference, Hajjaj met GPE Deputy CEO Charles North to discuss strengthening the organisation’s support for Bangladesh’s education sector, particularly efforts to improve the quality of primary education and reform the education system.
Hajjaj called for expanded GPE funding and technical assistance, highlighting government initiatives on education quality, teacher development, technology-based monitoring and improving learning outcomes.
Charles North assured the minister that the GPE would continue supporting Bangladesh’s education sector and consider expanding areas of cooperation in the future.
Hajjaj also invited GPE CEO Laura Frigenti and North to visit Bangladesh to review the country’s primary education priorities, ongoing reforms and potential areas of future cooperation.
The conference focused on increasing sustainable financing for education globally, strengthening development partnerships and securing new investments and commitments to ensure quality education.
Bangladesh secured a $98.85 million GPE grant in 2026, and Hajjaj attended the event with the aim of further expanding the partnership’s financial support for the country’s education sector.