Milon vows ‘big leaps’ to overhaul education sector

Newly appointed Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Ehsanul Haque Milon today vowed sweeping reforms to stabilise and modernise the country’s education sector, saying incremental progress would not suffice and “much bigger leaps” were essential.

"Bangladesh’s education system must undergo comprehensive transformation to meet global standards, with integrated reform initiatives planned to modernise curriculum, strengthen digital literacy, and improve English proficiency," he said speaking to journalists around 2:00pm, on his first working day at the Secretariat.

“In the education sector, we now need not just jumps, but much bigger leaps. That is what I believe, and we will work accordingly," he added.

Reflecting on his previous tenure under the BNP government in 2001, Milon claimed significant progress had been made in restoring integrity to examinations.

“Cheating in exams was stopped and question paper leaks were prevented. Those issues are already behind us. I do not believe they will be repeated,” he said.

He emphasised that the forthcoming reforms would prioritise aligning Bangladesh’s education system with the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Plans include introducing advanced fields such as nanotechnology, artificial intelligence and robotics into educational programmes, alongside expanding technology-based learning and digital platforms.

Milon underscored the urgency of reform, warning that an outdated system would hinder national progress.

“The world is now a global village. We must build our education system in line with international standards,” he said, adding that efforts would focus on developing a modern, knowledge-based curriculum and equipping students with globally competitive skills.

On allegations of corruption and irregularities within the education ministry, Milon drew a firm line between past practices and his current tenure.

“We will not be accountable for what happened in the past. There was no corruption during my time, and there will be none this time either,” he said.

He confirmed that allegations of irregularities in MPO enlistment and institutional approvals would be investigated, with findings to be disclosed in due course.

Responding to concerns over the low salaries and benefits of private teachers, the minister acknowledged the issue and said the government was actively considering measures to address it.

“We are aware of the matter. Decisions will be announced in due time,” he said.