Bangladesh’s education system is sliding deeper into crisis as chronic underfunding, weak accountability, political interference and widening inequality threaten the country’s future workforce, education experts warned at a national dialogue in Dhaka on Thursday.
Despite nearly 50 education-related pledges by the government within months of taking office, researchers and policymakers said reforms remain stalled by low budget allocations, poor implementation and a fragmented education structure.
At the dialogue, organized by the Citizen’s Platform for SDGs Bangladesh under the Centre for Policy Dialogue at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center, speakers described the country’s education sector as facing not just a “learning crisis” but a broader political and economic emergency.
Bangladesh currently spends around 1.8% of its GDP on education in budget allocations, though actual expenditure often falls to nearly 1.3% because of budget cuts and implementation failures -- far below Unesco’s recommended 4-6%.
Experts said nearly 80-90% of education spending goes toward salaries and administrative costs, leaving little room for improving classrooms, teacher quality, digital learning or infrastructure.
Development projects are often the first casualties when government revenues shrink.
Researchers also warned of a growing “elite desertion” from public education, saying affluent and influential families increasingly avoid government schools, weakening pressure on authorities to improve standards.
“When policymakers and elites are disconnected from public schools, accountability naturally declines,” speakers at the event said.
While Bangladesh has achieved major gains in enrollment and gender parity, experts said the country is now trapped in a severe learning crisis where students pass exams but fail to acquire practical skills.
Data presented at the dialogue showed that despite high GPA rates in Higher Secondary Certificate examinations, nearly 91.5% of students fail university admission tests.
Speakers warned the mismatch could become even more dangerous as automation and artificial intelligence reshape global labor markets.
Projections discussed at the event suggested AI could displace around 5.6 million jobs in Bangladesh while creating nearly 5 million new roles requiring advanced digital and analytical skills.
Participants called for urgent reforms to move the education system away from rote memorization and exam-focused learning toward creativity, problem-solving and digital literacy.
Infrastructure gaps also remain acute.
Many rural schools still lack reliable electricity and internet access despite the government’s “Smart Bangladesh” vision.
State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj said 30-40% of government primary school buildings require urgent repairs, with some structures too unsafe to remain functional.
“You said untrained teachers should not enter classrooms, we have already taken that step,” he said.
“About 14,500 teachers protested against this decision, but we remain firm. They will complete training and return to classrooms within four to six months.”
The state minister described the education system as “fragile” after years of policy inconsistency and weak implementation.
Political interference emerged as another major concern.
Around 96% of participants in a real-time survey supported removing politicians from school management committees, while more than 92% backed forming an independent and permanent Education Commission to ensure long-term policy continuity.
Experts warned that without sustained investment, institutional reform and stable long-term planning, Bangladesh risks deepening inequality and failing to prepare its vast young population for the future economy.
