First six months of new government: Education sector effects

The Prime Minister considers education the foundation of nation-building. He informed Parliament that education received the highest budget, focusing on quality. Over five years, the government will raise education spending to 5% of GDP. In its first six months, the government stressed education.

Great to see play, fitness, and cultural competitions back in primary education. These activities help kids develop holistically. The government has promoted young literacy, physical and mental health, and creativity. Bangladesh's 2026-27 budget and 12-point reform program aim to promote higher education and TVET. Summary of new government education policies and initiatives in first six months:

Budget Increase: Education received Tk 1,36,606 crore in 2026-27, 56.64% more than Tk 87,206 crore. GDP Ratio: Education costs rose from 1.39% to 2% with a goal of 5%.

Basic Facilities: Efforts include free educational resources, inclusive facilities for physically handicapped youngsters, and school dinners.

Strategic Policies and 12 Point Program

Modernization requires teaching Bengali, English, and a third language (Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, French, or German).

Introducing technical education from sixth grade and incorporating AI and TVET into normal institutions are suggested.

Industry-academia links, UGC leadership, research seed money, and National University regionalization are priority reforms.

Bangladesh's tertiary education is experiencing a significant difficulty over faculty qualifications. The UGC's 2023 report indicates that 56% of educators at public universities do not possess advanced degrees (MPhil/PhD), while merely 38% have attained PhDs. The predicament in private universities is more severe, with around 79% of educators without a PhD.

To tackle this issue, the government has suggested a "Brain Circulation" initiative aimed at enticing expatriate scholars and transforming brain drain into a knowledge exchange. The existing framework has under scrutiny for its overdependence on certificate-oriented methodologies and superficial ranking systems, nevertheless the UGC is endeavoring to modify this via its five-year "Higher Education Transformation" initiative (2026–2030).

The UGC's HEAT initiative is now educating academics around the country, aiming to instruct approximately 5,000 educators. Concurrently, the standards for accreditation are being revised to prioritize digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and quality assurance. Reforms are progressively advocating for promotions based on Scopus/WoS metrics and emphasizing research productivity and institutional responsibility.

Furthermore, there is an increasing discourse regarding the requirement for private colleges to designate National, Emeritus, and Supernumerary (70+) professors to more effectively leverage the expertise of retired veterans.

The World Bank informs that in 2019, one third of all graduates are unemployed for one to two years after graduation, and 20% of university graduates are unemployed for over a year.

The research also found a significant skills gap with 69% of businesses struggling to find competent applicants. The percentage of unemployed youngsters with tertiary education has climbed from 9.7% in 2013 to 27.8% in 2022. The World Bank emphasizes investing in skills development, equitable access, market-aligned finance techniques, and better regulatory structures, and the HEAT program underscores graduate employability as a key reform.

Employment target: Education and industry must be integrated to achieve the government's 1 crore (10 million) job goal and SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work), and SDG 9 (Innovation). Reforming SSC/HSC scores, integrated assessment, and end-of-session bottlenecks.

The 12-Point Policy Reform Agenda

The ministry announced groundbreaking modernization guidelines:

The curriculum includes morality and a third language to learn with Bengali and English.

AI integration with TVET expansion at universities.

Twelve Priority Reforms:

• Industrial-academic collaborations and internships.

• Enhancing UGC strategic leadership

• Proposed private university tax exemption.

• Decentralizing the National University.

• Technology instruction begins in the class sixth.

Entrepreneurship and inventiveness are also stressed by the PM. Research and innovation competitions like “Startup, Science Project and Innovation Idea Showcasing” promote science education in schools, universities, and madrasas.

According to Education Advisor Dr. Mahdi Amin, the Prime Minister wants students to be entrepreneurs and job creators. He considers education an investment. The PM said the administration has taken all necessary steps to improve teacher training and provide great education for future generations.

The government has taken attempts to modernize education to make it modern, job-oriented, and technology-dependent. He said auto-promotion hurt youngsters' futures. Bangladesh needs sustained commitment on multiple fronts to become a “education hub” with world-class universities that are “global in outlook but local in heart” as the government intends.

These include teacher certifications, research, curriculum updating, industry connections, and quality assurance. Polytechnics should be integrated into universities and TVET should follow Bangladesh National Qualifications Framework under UGC monitoring. This is necessary to train a digitally competent and sustainable workforce.

The government's major policy changes show its commitment to education. PhD teacher development, AI integration, TVET expansion, and lowering SSC/HSC scores for higher entrance align Bangladesh's education system with global norms and sustainable development goals.

UGC's HEAT project professionalizes education. BAC Accreditation for Quality Senior professors' experience should improve National Professor, Emeritus, and Supernumerary professor seats and tenure.

Close the PhD gap with domestic and international fellowships for teachers. Universities must actively attract competitively paid academics with research start-up grants.

Institutional Resistance: Teaching mandated AI and sustainability courses may seem bureaucratic or complex. Culture distinguishes outcome-based education from input-based education.

New institutions have limited resources for advanced courses. A government-funded tiring scheme is needed.

Research papers may increase quality vs. quantity issues. The UGC may ensure national journal rating system which can discourages predatory publishing and helps scholars identify good publications.

TVET Perception: Technical education is historically undesirable. Educational relationships and clear work opportunities can boost image. TVET inclusion into universities is crucial policy.

The Education Minister wants polytechnic and vocational education to become higher education, suggesting expanding TVET at the university level.

Teacher recruitment, SSC/HSC results

Using SSC and HSC results to hire university professors is controversial and pointless. Advanced degrees, research skills, and subject-matter experience are valued more than secondary and higher-secondary exam scores in university teaching. PhD, research experience, and teaching skills are key to hiring world-class university teachers.

The PhD proves research skills and topic understanding. This is exacerbated by recruitment. Since PhDs are not necessary for entry-level professorships, teaching can begin after bachelor's and master's degrees, sometimes without the research experience needed for effective education or research.

The UGC says teacher credentials affect higher education quality and research. Bangladeshi research funding is low by global standards despite growth. Research spending is not uniform across all private universities. Reports indicate that a significant number of private universities allocated little to no funds for research. In 2023, for example, 28 private universities reportedly spent nothing on research.

The government recognizes the issues and suggests a “brain gain” method to include highly trained Bangladeshi professionals abroad in education and research. The education minister promoted worldwide academic collaboration and cross-border education to improve higher education. The government platform promises more visiting professors and overseas university partnerships.

Since 15 February 1973, the Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC) governs all public and private universities. The UGC oversees higher education standards and government-university interactions. “UGC is developing a five-year national higher education transformation plan.

Bangladeshi professors and researchers abroad are also being accepted by the UGC. The UGC Chairman has also underlined connecting universities to society and pushing private universities to open permanent campuses.

QS Bangladesh Forum 2026 with the University Grants Commission was held at Sheraton Dhaka on August 17, 2026. The conference “Benchmark Bangladesh,” emphasized research, top higher education, and QS World University Rankings preparedness.

Chief Guest, Education Minister, reveals government commitment to global recognition. He announced that initiatives will soon be taken to introduce PhD programs at private universities in Bangladesh

Bengali spawned Bangladesh.

Bengali symbolized identity, culture, and self-determination in the 1952 Language Movement and 1971 Liberation War. Bengali, which powered nation-state creation, was secured by Language Movement martyrs.

Dhaka Central University (DCU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Nurul Islam rightly commented throughout a meeting in August 2026 that the attitude and viewpoint required for university teachers are different from those create in members of the BCS (General Education) cadre, flashing extensive discussion and following explanation. Gradually needs to replace BCS cadre teacher by real academician with research capability in Dhaka Central University.

Because I recently come across a group of BCS cadres’ teachers who are focusing and wants to become staff to be admi9startive position. When I told that academician is bigger than they said no, they want to become administrator not full academician. How shame! They are4 considering them staff. In University staff mainly used for administrator.

Global recognition systems are discussed by lawmakers. Numerous private companies’ market “quality improvement” packages, software, advice services, and ranking-boosting methods. Most are cosmetic and ignore supply and demand, which determine quality.

Cultural education in primary is growing. Children need culture education to develop creativity, confidence, and empathy. Education Minister says the administration has no plans to eliminate Bengali from higher education. Our mother tongue is Bengali; can it be removed?

Our great national budget target of 1 crore (10 million) jobs is far from met. SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) require education systems to produce graduates who can lead sustainable development and build strong, inclusive economies.

This stagnation contradicts them. Bangladesh must improve university rankings. AI must be integrated into higher education and research capacity increased. Education and research for highly skilled Bangladeshis are the goals of its ‘brain gain’ initiative.

Higher education expansion depends on global education and intellectual collaboration. Government plans need to include additional visiting professor and foreign university exchange programs. Bengali and Bangladesh studies must be required at all levels—basic, secondary, upper secondary, and university.

Author: Professor Muhammad Mahboob Ali, Former Vice-Chancellor, Presidency University, BUBT Professor, BAC External Auditor