Political will, consensus and commitment are imperative to restructure the country's education system in order to keep pace with the technologically-advanced world, speakers at a programme on Wednesday observed.
They suggested strengthening coordination among state entities and making a special initiative to produce quality teachers first to modernise the system in line with sustainable development goals (SDGs).
The observations were made during a virtual discussion on a book styled 'Political Economy of Education in South Asia: Fighting Poverty, Inequality and Exclusion' hosted by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).
Dr Manzoor Ahmed, an emeritus professor at BRAC University, co-authored the book, with John Richards and Shahidul Islam, published from the University of Toronto Press this year.
CPD chairman Prof Rehman Sobhan presided over the programme.
Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) director general Dr Binayak Sen, and CPD Board of Trustees member Prof Syed Manzoorul Islam, among others, spoke.
Dr Ahmed, the co-author, says, "Educational deficits persisted for no lack of technical solutions, rather the absence of political settlements prevented implementation of good solutions."
Besides, a divided educational system -- mainstream Bangla, English medium and madrasa -- reinforces division in the nation, defying a policy declaration, he adds.
"Our educational institutions, especially schools, mostly emphasise completing the syllabus instead of thinking about educational outcome in the long run."
Again, the coronavirus pandemic has created an enormous backlog in the education system, though the authorities have not come up with any innovative solution yet, Dr Ahmed laments the fact.
Dr Ahmed urges the authorities concerned to recognise the central role of the education system in building a progressive and democratic polity, not just the culture of passing exams.
GDP growth and mega projects are not enough, he says, adding: "Education must be protected from short-sighted politics because education sector needs a comprehensively designed policy to achieve the SDGs by 2030 and become a developed country by 2041."
The author suggests a permanent education commission, anticipated in the Education Policy-2010, guide the process of improving the education system.
All school education should come under one ministry, instead of the current two, with a decentralised governance structure tagged with regulatory frameworks covering state, private and hybrid institutions to uphold public welfare.
A new state initiative is needed to attract the best talents in education profession, creating a national teaching service corps, according to Dr Ahmed.
Prof Islam, who currently teaches English and humanities at University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh, says, "Quality teachers produce quality students. The authorities must concentrate more on creating quality teachers first."
He appreciates the recommendations of the authors for a national pool of teachers, saying university students with highest quality must be retained as teachers.
Dr Sen points out that household poverty is a big barrier to primary and secondary education and the highest drop-out rate is from the marginalised community.
Prof Sobhan says market demand has taken over the classical disciplines in the private education system.
This is causing students to enter the mainstream with low quality education, he adds.
CPD executive director Dr Fahmida Khatun gave a welcome speech at the event, moderated by CPD research director Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem.
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