Primary education initiative

Especially noteworthy is the attention that the initiative places on targeting children at the bottom end of the socio-economic spectrum. If we want to progress economically and socially then we must make sure to provide opportunity to all.

Let us hope that the programme succeeds in bringing the reform to the education sector that is needed.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

The first problem to be tackled is class-size. The student-teacher ratio in primary schools is a bloated 55:1 with the ratio swelling to 67:1 in government schools. So the first step in improving the primary education system is to hire more teachers.

But just hiring more teachers is not enough. We need to make sure the calibre of the teachers hired is high to ensure that the students get the best possible education. This means comprehensive and up-to-date teacher training and improved salaries and conditions so that we can attract quality candidates to the field.

Capacity building alone will not suffice. The entire educational system today is rife with abuse, irregularity and inefficiency which must be thoroughly rooted out if primary education is to be meaningfully improved on a durable basis.

The primary education initiative that has been announced is a good and overdue first step, but it must be followed up by true commitment to long-term reform with the vision to create a sustainable educational structure that will serve the needs of our children long into the future.