The government has announced the extension of free primary education up to grade eight, aligning with the National Education Policy of 2010, to enhance education quality and curb school dropouts and child marriages.
This initiative is part of the government’s broader plan to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), sources at the Education Ministry revealed to Dhaka Tribune. The aim is to ensure that financial barriers do not prevent students from completing lower secondary education.
Primary education in the region began in 1854, with significant strides made post-independence. The literacy rate was a mere 16.8% in 1971, prompting constitutional guarantees for universal and compulsory free primary education in 1972. The government nationalized 36,165 primary schools in 1973, further cemented by the Primary Education (Taking Over) Act of 1974.
The Bangladesh Education Commission Report of 1974, led by Dr. Qudrat-e-Khuda, recommended free primary education from grades one to eight by 1983. However, it was the Primary Education (Compulsory) Act of 1990 that made education up to grade five free and compulsory, later expanded nationwide in 1993. These efforts boosted the literacy rate to 24.8% by 1991, which now stands at 74.66%, according to BANBEIS.
Despite these advances, the National Student Assessment 2022 by the Directorate of Primary Education and UNICEF highlighted concerns about stagnation in the primary education system. Educationists noted that while literacy rates improved, many primary students lack basic reading, writing, and analytical skills. This foundational weakness impacts secondary and higher education levels.
In 2016, the government proposed extending primary education to grade eight but faced implementation challenges. The current directive instructs the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education to collaborate on this transition, focusing on providing quality, free education.
Over the next three years, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education plans to extend free education and tutoring to grades six through eight in at least 10,000 primary schools. Additionally, efforts will be made to reduce education costs in private institutions at the lower secondary level.
A recent UNFPA delegation emphasized that extending free education to grade eight could significantly reduce child marriage rates in Bangladesh. Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel affirmed the government’s commitment to a free education system up to the secondary level, addressing challenges like economic issues, extra fees, and dropout rates.
Educationist Rasheda K. Chowdhury welcomed the initiative, highlighting its alignment with the Qudrat-e-Khuda education policy. She stressed the need for quality education to develop skilled human resources and avoid future national losses.
