State Minister of Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj said government will provide free uniforms to all primary school students across the country.
He mentioned the directive came from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and work has already begun to implement the plan.
“Students will receive free uniforms once a year. We believe we will be able to gradually ensure this for all primary schools within the tenure of the current government,” he said.
The state minister made the remarks on Monday morning while addressing a policy dialogue titled ‘Primary Education Reform: Strategic Direction’, organised by BRAC’s education programme at the BRAC Centre in Mohakhali.
The dialogue aimed to incorporate field-level experience and evidence-based recommendations into policymaking to improve the quality of primary education and advance reform initiatives.
In his speech, the state minister said mid-day meal programmes have already been introduced in several primary schools.
“We hope to bring all primary schools under the mid-day meal programme within the next year,” he added.
He stressed the need to strengthen the “three Cs” in education—curriculum, classroom and consistency. He said classroom infrastructure and environment must improve. He also noted gaps in the current curriculum.
“I have started visiting schools in person. In several cases, especially among Class Four and Five students, I found reading from textbooks quite difficult for them,” he said.
“We need to assess what they are learning and whether the language and content are suitable. The curriculum appears too difficult for many students and needs review and updating” he added.
On curriculum reform, he said primary and pre-primary education should adopt play-based and storytelling-based approaches.
“We will not impose a new curriculum overnight. We will announce updates, conduct pilot programmes, provide training, and then implement changes,” Bobby Hajjaj added.
He also highlighted the importance of extracurricular activities. The government is working with the Ministry of Youth and Sports to introduce six to seven sports in every school.
It is also collaborating with the Ministry of Cultural Affairs to promote dance, music and acting.
The state minister stressed the need for effective teacher training. “Primary teachers receive a 10-month training at PTIs.
The content is good, but I do not see its application in schools. We will make training more effective,” he said.
Director General of the Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) Abu Noor Md Shamsuzzaman, Director General (additional charge) of the Bureau of Non-Formal Education Debabrata Chakraborty, and BRAC Executive Director Asif Saleh, among others, attended the event.
