Published: 12:54 AM, 04 September 2026
What Measures Can Be Taken for Education Reforms?
Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed
Education is a fundamental pillar of a nation's identity and future. Its primary goal is to enhance an individual's knowledge, conscience, morality, creativity, and human values, shaping responsible citizens. However, when education focuses solely on exam results, rote learning, and certificate collection, its true essence is compromised. In Bangladesh, concerns about the conventional education system persist, particularly in light of rapid changes in technology, artificial intelligence, globalization, and workplace demands. The educational approach remains heavily centered on rote learning, leading to graduates who often lack essential real-world skills. Addressing this gap is vital for the economic security of the population and the state’s long-term capacity. In today's economy, skilled human resources are more critical than natural resources, as a knowledgeable and innovative workforce drives productivity, technological progress, and economic growth. International development organizations recognize education as a cornerstone of economic development; the focus should be on creating capable individuals who can seize opportunities and contribute positively to society. Thus, increased funding for education must be effectively managed to ensure a skilled future workforce.
The main problem with education is that it focuses too much on memorization instead of critical thinking. Students are pushed to remember answers to pass exams. This makes grades the goal, not learning. As a result important questions about what knowledge's useful or how it applies in real life get ignored. Students lose their curiosity. They stop thinking for themselves. They remember things for the test. Forget them soon after. Still those test results decide their future. This happens because education is seen as a way to get certificates and find jobs. It fails to build a society that's creative or kind. A good education system should support asking questions trying things out and using knowledge in situations. Learning should help people become capable and responsible citizens. It should help the economy grow and promote fairness. In Bangladesh the Ministry of Education says it wants "quality education for all.". Real problems remain. There is inequality in education. Many schools still rely on learning. There are issues with how schools are managed. Talks about reform have gone on for years.. These talks often treat reforms as short-term political moves. They should be seen as steps for long-term progress. Real change, in education is needed. Then we can build a nation that truly values knowledge and creativity.
One of the important responsibilities of a welfare state is to provide necessary assistance to disadvantaged and vulnerable groups in society so that they do not become completely devastated by poverty, unemployment, illness or any other social and economic crisis. Social security may include various programs such as old-age allowances, allowances for widows and women abandoned by their husbands, disability allowances, maternity assistance, food assistance, employment programs, educational stipends and relief during disasters. The principal objective is not merely to distribute money or food among poor people; rather, it is to ensure their fundamental rights, dignity and minimum standard of living. Social security plays an important role in reducing poverty and inequality and maintaining social stability. In Bangladesh, the scope of social security programs has gradually been expanded to protect a large population from poverty and various social risks. However, transparency, proper beneficiary selection, prevention of corruption and accountability are extremely important in these programmes. An effective social security system not only alleviates people’s suffering; rather, it creates the foundation for establishing a humane, just and inclusive society.
Human resource development refers to the improvement of people’s knowledge, skills, qualifications, creativity, working capacity and moral values. The most important resource of a country is its people. Natural resources, industries or technology can be used effectively only when skilled and qualified people are able to operate them. Therefore, the main objective of human resource development is to make people productive and self-reliant through increasing their education, training, health, work skills and technological knowledge. An educated and skilled population plays an important role in the economic growth, social development and technological advancement of a country. Especially in the modern world, there is no alternative to skilled human resources if a country is to keep pace with rapid changes in science and technology. For this reason, it is necessary to improve the quality of primary and higher education, expand technical and vocational education, provide employment-oriented training, ensure healthcare and increase opportunities for research and innovation. Bangladesh has a large young population, which can be transformed into a major national asset through proper education and training. Human resource development does not only increase individual income and quality of life; it also helps reduce unemployment and poverty, increase productivity and strengthen the national economy. Therefore, building skilled, educated, healthy, creative and responsible human resources is indispensable for sustainable national development.
The greatest challenge facing Bangladesh today is not simply achieving economic growth; it is building institutions that people can trust. No Anti-Corruption Commission, legal reform or administrative measure can fully eradicate corruption if future generations are not taught to distinguish right from wrong and to value honesty and morality above personal gain. Universities have a crucial role to play in bringing about this change. The future of Bangladesh will depend not only on the number of graduates we produce, but also on the values, principles and sense of responsibility they carry into society. Investment in value-based higher education is therefore more than an investment in human resources; it is an investment in the moral capital of the nation. If we want to prevent corruption, reduce social violence and build a prosperous, ethical and compassionate Bangladesh, moral education must become a long-term national priority. Higher education reform should place values at its centre. Bangladesh cannot become a truly developed nation by producing graduates who possess knowledge alone. We need graduates who combine knowledge with honesty, morality, humanity and wisdom. They will become tomorrow’s responsible administrators, fair judges, compassionate doctors, skilled engineers, ethical entrepreneurs, creative scientists and visionary national leaders.
If education is the foundation of human resource development, social security, economic prosperity and state reform, then Bangladesh has no sustainable alternative but to make investment in education a central priority of national development. A look at countries that have achieved remarkable progress in human resources, economic growth, technology and good governance shows a common pattern: they have placed education at the heart of national development and shaped education and training around the needs of both the national and global workforce. If Bangladesh is to realize the vision of building a new nation that has emerged in the post-July period, education reform must receive the highest priority alongside broader state reforms. The self-destructive politicization of education, the failure to consistently implement and improve education policies, declining educational standards, inadequate research and weaknesses in skills development must be addressed urgently. Education should no longer remain a sector considered in isolation; it must become a central pillar of the national development strategy. At the same time, Bangladesh must ensure adequate investment in education in line with international standards, including a minimum allocation of 5% of GDP, while ensuring that these resources are used efficiently, transparently and accountably. Investment in education is not simply spending on schools, colleges or universities. It is an investment in human potential, national unity, economic prosperity and, above all, the future of the state.
Bangladesh’s greatest strength in facing the challenges of the twenty-first century is its young population. If we can free our young people from the limitations of rote learning and help them become thoughtful, skilled, creative and ethical citizens, they can take the country’s economy, society and state to a new level. The time has come to move beyond the weaknesses of conventional education and make learning more practical, creative, humane and future-oriented. The true success of education should not be measured by examination marks alone. Its real purpose is to help students become rational, capable, creative, ethical and responsible human beings. Bangladeshi students have once again demonstrated their courage and sacrifice in securing the rights of the people. Against this backdrop, education has become a vital part of the national conversation about building a discrimination-free state, placing education reform firmly on the national agenda. To overcome the shortcomings of conventional education, we need a broad social movement involving educators, students, parents and policymakers. Through meetings, seminars and workshops, we must build public awareness and consensus for meaningful reform. There is no sustainable alternative. Only education reforms may play the role to develop its human resources, ensure social security and build a prosperous and self-reliant Bangladesh.
Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed is former
Deputy Director General, Bangladesh
Ansar and VDP and Rotary Learning Facilitator,
Rotary Club, Dhaka Elite.
