Bangladesh has nearly achieved universal primary enrollment, but ensuring children actually learn in the classroom is now the country's biggest education challenge, says Javier Luque, Bangladesh Team lead at the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).
In an interview with Dhaka Tribune Reporter Rabiul Hasan, Luque discusses GPE's nearly US$99 million grant package, backed by US$300 million in Asian Development Bank (ADB) co-financing, why teachers are central to education reform, and how Bangladesh can improve learning outcomes despite funding constraints.
Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in expanding access to education. What do you see as its biggest achievement and its biggest challenge now?
Bangladesh has made remarkable progress and is close to achieving universal primary enrollment. The next challenge is ensuring children are not just in school, but learning effectively. The government's renewed focus—including a substantial increase in the education budget along with support from local stakeholders and international partners, is creating real momentum to improve education quality. Deepening reforms, particularly those that strengthen teachers, will be essential to translating that momentum into better learning outcomes.
Despite this year's budget increase, however, Bangladesh still has a considerable way to go before reaching its target of allocating 5% of GDP to education. Until then, resource constraints will continue to limit opportunities to improve learning.
Bangladesh has secured nearly US$99 million in GPE grants alongside US$300 million in ADB co-financing. What does this investment mean for Bangladesh's education sector?
This is a major investment for Bangladesh. It combines two priorities that matter most for children's learning: stronger teacher support and more effective use of classroom technology.
The nearly US$99 million in GPE grants will support nationally led reforms in teacher professionalization, digital transformation, and blended learning. A US$50 million GPE Multiplier Grant is also helping unlock US$300 million in ADB co-financing, enabling Bangladesh to mobilize substantially greater resources for its education priorities.
For children, this is about far more than funding. It means better-prepared teachers, more resilient classrooms, and greater opportunities to learn, regardless of where they live.
What sets this package apart from previous education investments in Bangladesh?
Unlike many traditional donor grants or loans, the GPE System Transformation Grant is anchored in a country-led Partnership Compact. That requires the government and development partners to jointly identify a priority reform capable of driving system-wide transformation, rather than financing a stand-alone project.
The program was jointly designed by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, together with development partners. It places teachers at the center of reform—covering teacher preparation, professional development, classroom support, career pathways, and management systems—while the Multiplier Grant supports digital transformation and blended learning across pre-primary, primary, and secondary education.
It also reflects a partnership-based financing model. The Multiplier Grant has helped unlock US$300 million in ADB co-financing, mobilizing additional resources behind Bangladesh's own education priorities.
How does this investment support Bangladesh's long-term education goals, particularly when it comes to inclusion?
The investment supports Bangladesh's long-term vision by strengthening the foundations of learning—teachers, classrooms, systems, and technology—in line with the government's manifesto.
If children are to build the skills they need for the future, they need strong teachers and a learning system that reaches them wherever they are. These grants support that vision by investing in teacher professionalization and digital and blended learning across the education system.
On inclusion, GPE supports nationally led reforms that keep equity and learning at the center. We work with the government and development partners to ensure investments benefit children most at risk of being left behind, including girls, children from disadvantaged communities, and learners who need additional support.
With global education funding under pressure, how can Bangladesh mobilize more resources for education?
The global funding landscape is becoming more constrained, making innovative financing more important than ever. The GPE Multiplier is a good example. In Bangladesh, the US$50 million grant is helping unlock US$300 million in ADB co-financing.
This is exactly the kind of financing education systems need—mobilizing larger investments, aligning partners behind a shared reform agenda, and complementing the government's increased domestic spending on education.
Could Bangladesh receive additional GPE support in the future, and what would determine that?
GPE works through partnership, helping countries develop and implement nationally led education priorities while aligning grants, technical expertise, and partner financing behind them. Instruments such as the Multiplier help countries leverage additional co-financing from development partners, including multilateral development banks.
Bangladesh is already an active GPE partner and has received more than US$280 million through different financing windows to date. GPE is currently undertaking a replenishment campaign that will determine future resources for Bangladesh and other partner countries.
Future financing will depend on Bangladesh would need to show solid progress in implementing the newly announced grants.
Teachers are central to this reform package. How will GPE help strengthen Bangladesh's teaching workforce?
Yes. Local stakeholders in the Education Local Consultative Group identified teachers as a key priority. The System Transformation Grant supports teacher preparation, professional development, classroom support, career pathways, and management systems, with UNICEF and UNESCO serving as grant agents alongside the government and other partners.
The Multiplier Grant will also introduce digital tools to help teachers strengthen classroom practice.
The principle is simple: children learn better when teachers are well prepared, well supported, and valued.
Bangladesh still spends less on education than many comparable countries. How can it improve learning outcomes despite limited resources?
GPE welcomes the substantial increase in Bangladesh's education budget and the government's commitment to move closer to international benchmarks. In the meantime, making the most of available resources will be critical. That means prioritizing investments in teachers, early learning, foundational skills, inclusive education, and stronger education management, while ensuring development partner support remains aligned with national priorities.
GPE's partnership model helps countries maximize every dollar by mobilizing additional financing, aligning partners behind shared reforms, and keeping the focus on learning outcomes. For Bangladesh, the priority should be protecting investments that have the greatest impact on what happens in the classroom.
