Professor Dr. Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar, an education adviser, stated today that the government has taken the initiative to pass an integrated education act in the nation for the first time.
In an exclusive interview with BSS at his Secretariat office here, he stated, “The main objective of this law is to bring the education system under a legal framework and establish education as a citizen’s right.”
“We have long been saying that education is a right,” Professor Abrar stated. However, there was no integrated law that acknowledged education as a right up to this point. For the first time, this law closes that gap.
He said laws are never very detailed; rather, they provide direction. “In the future, rules and policies will be formulated to make it more effective,” he added.
Rejecting allegations that the law was prepared hastily, he said it is the outcome of extensive discussions. Consultations were held at the field level with students, teachers, education administrators, educationists, and stakeholders from various districts, he said.
“Making a law is like cooking. Before cooking, you need to gather the ingredients. We have done that preparation,” said Prof Abrar.
The Education Adviser said the proposed law includes several notable changes.
He proposed the creation of a National Education Academy, the expansion of technical, ICT, and AI-based education, the introduction of a Unique Identification Number (UIN) for each student, the merger of superfluous and inadequate educational institutions, a phased-out strategy to lessen reliance on coaching centers and guidebooks, and a legal emphasis on student safety and humane education.
Additionally, the law places a high priority on kids’ safety, morality, human rights, and mental development. It also suggests disciplinary actions by classifying sexual and mental abuse as misconduct.
On this issue, the policymaker said education is not only about examination results. “The goal of this law is also to ensure that a student grows up as a humane having ethical values,” he said.
The adviser considers the Unique Identification Number (UIN) important for reducing students’ hassles. Through this system, students’ information—from primary to higher education—will be stored in a single database.
He explained that this will eliminate the need for repeated verification during admissions, certificate verification, or transfers from one institution to another.
At the same time, the law emphasizes the primacy of the Bangla language while stressing the importance of English and other languages. It proposes considering language as a skill, he said.
The law also includes provisions to expand technology-based education, particularly the use of ICT and artificial intelligence (AI), he added.
Noting that the law is not flawless, the adviser said there is scope for improvement.
“But it is not right to say that it was rushed or is unacceptable. This is the first integrated education act in Bangladesh—that is its greatest achievement,” he added.
According to sources, education has up until now been regulated by a number of disjointed and inconsistent circulars, policies, and regulations. The goal of the new education legislation is to combine all of these elements into a thorough and useful framework.
