Bangladesh’s education system has, for the longest time, been fraught with a host of issues that impede its desired effect on our society. Given that a good education system is the ground upon which a nation builds itself, it's concerning that not enough is done to improve it, in terms of resources or otherwise.
Given just how successful the current government’s Digital Bangladesh initiative has proven to be over the past decade, it is entirely natural to ask why our burgeoning digital infrastructure is not being utilized to improve our education system.
To that end, it is good to see the private sector once again pick up the slack in creating an avenue for digital learning for students across Bangladesh, with digital education platforms, such as the newly founded Shikkha, hopefully being the first of many such services down the line.
Despite its many drawbacks, Covid-19 propelled our education sector into integrating a more technology-based system in line with our nation’s digital ambitions.
Admittedly, the last two years of relying solely on digital education has proven to be difficult for many. However, with in-person classrooms active again, there is no reason to discard the progress we have made as a nation in embracing online learning.
That is not to say that this does not have its setbacks. The country, in its entirety, is not yet fully equipped to take on digital learning as a means forward -- what with a lack of internet access in many areas, and much of the population unable to afford, or use, smartphones, or computers.
However, our education system has been making strides in bringing in and adapting to changes that will not only benefit the students, but the nation as a whole. Needless to say, we need to keep this momentum going.
Now is the time to be pro-active. Our government should focus on improving these areas, and enable the education system to effectively assimilate with existing technologies to further the reach of education.
Education and technology are natural partners, and we would do well as a nation to allow that partnership to flourish.
