By Ali Hassan

The term “literacy” means far more today than in the past, incorporating not only the ability to read physical texts, but to also be able to comprehend and break down internet sources and articles as well. Bangladesh has been striving to make the country’s educational system develop these skills through the implementation of newer programs and the infusion of technology into schools colleges and universities. The government’s goal of creating an accomplished, educated population through digital education has helped to increase literacy in Bangladesh.

Literacy rate in Bangladesh is now 74.66 percent, according to the preliminary report of "Population and Housing Census-2022". It was 51.77 percent in the previous census conducted in 2011.The highest literacy rate is in Dhaka division which is 78.09 and lowest in Mymensingh which is 67.09 percent. According to Aminul Islam Khan, outgoing senior secretary to the primary and mass education ministry, The Government Primary School Teacher Welfare Trust Bill, 2022 was placed in Parliament on
31 October, 2022 aiming at bearing the expense of education of minor child of teacher if they die during service. Primary and Mass Education State Minister M Zakir Hossain placed the bill which was sent to the respective parliamentary standing committee for further examination to implement a single shift in all public primary schools across the country. Moreover he claimed that the government will try to implement the decision of having a single shift at government primary schools from January 2023 while talking to reporters on his last working day.

Aminul said they are considering this plan keeping in mind the number of students, classrooms and teachers. The proposals which includes, Shifting the dependency on fossil fuel to renewable and sustainable energy in accordance with local ecosystem, ensuring social justice focusing on social and cultural dimensions, incorporating women protection and empowerment in every instance of climate justice, protecting the forest engaging indigenous population and indigenous knowledge, local knowledge and local identification of climate change victim, implementing climate rights framework, recognition of ecocide and climate refugee, accountability for climate change information and data, and injunctions of polluting MNCs & TNCs and strengthening national governments. Moreover, Istiaq Nur Muhit, convenor of Dhaka University for Climate Action mentioned that it is high time to ensure justice for climate affected people, while addressing the event urged all to act unitedly in this regard. Another speaker, Ferdous Siddique Saymon mentiond that DU will lead the country once again by standing the side of climate affected people just like it did earlier in many historical events of Bangladesh.

Dhaka University (DU) and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) are the only two universities ranked in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2023. DU ranked in the 551-600 brackets while BUET was ranked in the 601+ bracket. A total of 700 universities have been ranked in this list. Likewise The QS Sustainability University Rankings are based on two impact factors – Environmental and Social. The Environmental Impact covers three areas – sustainable institutions, sustainable education, and sustainable research. The Social Impact covers five areas – equality, knowledge exchange, impact of education, employability & opportunities, and life quality.

If we look back in the educational reforms of previous government, seven public universities have been established by the government in 2005. Of these, four are general universities and the other three are specialized universities, such as for agriculture and veterinary studies. The general universities offer degrees in liberal arts and science subjects, for instance Bengali, English, history, philosophy, Islamic history and culture, Islamic studies, economics, sociology, political science, social work, physics, mathematics, chemistry, statistics, geography and environment, botany, zoology, psychology, along with the business and technology related subjects. However, the difference between a general and a specialized university is not only in producing different knowledge, but also in administrative and financial aspects. Moreover, the government promulgated the Jagannath University Act in 2005, in order to expand and improve teaching and research, and to produce modern knowledge in line with global standards of higher education. The president of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh was to be chancellor of the University and had the power to appoint the top posts, for example the vice chancellor (VC) and treasurer. According to the Act (section 1), they would be appointed for a period of four years and might be continued depending on the satisfaction of the chancellor (Ministry of Education, 2005). The treasurer can invest the university’s assets with the permission of the syndicate and will be responsible for preparing the university’s annual budget based on the university’s income.

The other two general universities, the Comilla University and the Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, were established in 2006. The government promulgated the Comilla University Neoliberalism, Policy Reforms and Higher Education in Bangladesh 161 and the Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University Acts on 8 May and 9 May, respectively. Both universities were established to expand modern teaching and research facilities at national level in line with global demands. The universities are entitled to introduce new streams of teaching and research degrees in science, arts, social sciences, law, and business studies with the permission of the UGC.

The struggle of the previous government of BNP in the field of education to bring educational reforms and economic sector, and the policy implementations brought fruitful results in improving literacy rate of Bangladesh.  The current developments could lead Bangladesh to 100% literacy rate till 2030 if the political unrest in Bangladesh comes to an end in next forthcoming elections of 2023. Moreover, people of Bangladesh are well aware of current politics in Bangladesh and hence by knowing the circumstances they can take fair decisions regarding state and state policies. This is how Bangladesh will progress by leaps and bounds in coming years.