DHAKA: The cabinet Monday approved the much-talked-about National Education Policy 2010, aimed at updating country’s outmoded educational system in tune with needs of the new millennium.

A regular meeting of the cabinet with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair approved the policy and an execution committee would now be formed for its implementation, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Abdul Kalam Azad told a press conference.  

The date for launching the policy is yet to be decided. Officials say the educational policy could be placed for parliament’s stamp of approval in the upcoming session.      

Approving the policy, Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina said, “There is no alternative to education for poverty alleviation and that it is also a most productive sector for investment.”

On April 8, 2009, the National Education Policy Formulation Committee was formed with National Professor Kabir Chowdhury as its head. The committed submitted a draft to Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid in September.

After consultation with stakeholders, the Education Ministry placed the draft policy to the Prime Minister on April 15 this year for her approval.

Informed sources said according to the new education policy primary education would be extended up to class eight and it will be free, universal and mandatory for all.

The secondary level encompasses class nine to twelve, leaving out intermediate classes. In the new system, there will be held terminal exam after class ten instead of SSC examination and after the completion of twelfth class there will be secondary examination.   

In higher education, thereafter, the three-year degree course will be upgraded to four-year honours course in phases.   

The sources also informed that the government would introduce pre-primary education for one year according to the new education policy.  

The policy spells out that Madrasa students have to learn Bengali, English, Mathematics, Moral Education, Bangladesh Studies, Introduction to Natural Environment, Information Technology and Science like other students as compulsory subjects.

As per the new education policy the government would provide books for the indigenous students in their own language so that the indigenous children can learn their mother language.
 
“The government will establish one vocational institute in every Upazila for the extension of vocational education in the country,” says the police statement.

The National University would be decentralized to every division and every divisional center would be converted to individual university in future.   

The education policy also proposes making a comprehensive education law and a permanent education commission for developing the sector.  

BDST: 1536 HRS. May 31, 2010
MJ/TSA/FA/MUA