Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (Dec 31) said her government wants to form an international standard education system in Bangladesh following the curriculum of world-renowned educational institutions. "We will give money whatever needs in education. There are renowned international universities - We have to see how they teach. What curriculum and which method do they follow? We want to establish international standard education system in Bangladesh," PM said. The premier said this while opening free textbook distribution programme at an event at her office through handing over books to students of pre-primary, primary and secondary levels in the morning. PM Sheikh Hasina said she wants to develop a nation with modern technology-knowledge-based education as she desired that students get such education from an early age. So, her government is giving importance to technical education and vocational training, she said. "We want to build a nation with modern-technology-knowledge-based education. We've already done everything for that," she added. Mentioning that the present era is the age of modern technology and knowledge, Sheikh Hasina said, "We will never be left behind. We have to keep pace with other countries. so we want our boys and girls to learn technology from early age." PM added, "We want our country to keep pace with the world. That is why we have to change our education curriculum." Referring to a quote of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the prime minister said Bangabandhu didn't consider the cost of education as an expenditure rather he used to think it a kind of investment. Calling on the students to pursue study attentively, she said life becomes failure without education as there may be wealth with many things but education is one thing that no one can take away. "We want to build the nation with versatile education. To build the smart Bangladesh, we need smart skilled population the most," she continued. Highlighting the importance of education to get rid of poverty, the head of government said they want to make Bangladesh a poverty-free country.   "Only education can make a country free from poverty. That is why we have given the most importance to education," she said. At the textbook distribution ceremony on the eve of 2024, Sheikh Hasina wished all a Happy New Year-2024. With Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni in the chair, Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury delivered the welcome address. Since 2017, the government has been distributing braille books among the blind students alongside handing over books in Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Garo and Sadri languages to the children of minority ethnic groups to facilitate them to study in their mother tongue.

The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations of 2024 will begin on February 15. Dhaka Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board Chairman Prof Tapan Kumar Sarkar confirmed the matter on Thursday. The schedule of the examinations will be published on the website, he said. Earlier in August, Education Minister Dipu Moni announced that the SSC and equivalent exams of 2024 will be held in February while the HSC and equivalent exams in April. For the past several years, the authorities concerned had to rearrange the academic calendar due to the Covid-19 pandemic and natural disaster, but it will be fully set from the next year, she said.  

U.S. Embassy Dhaka’s Public Diplomacy Section, in collaboration with BRAC University, inaugurates the second-ever cohort of the “Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE)” Program in Bangladesh.   Dhaka, November 30, 2023 – Today, Stephen F. Ibelli, Public Affairs Counselor at the U.S. Embassy, inaugurated the second cohort of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Program at the EMK Center in Dhaka.  AWE, a global initiative led by the U.S. Department of State, provides enterprising women with the knowledge, professional network, and foundational materials essential for launching and expanding successful businesses.    In collaboration with BRAC University’s Center for Entrepreneurship Development, U.S. Embassy Dhaka is deeply committed to supporting young aspiring women entrepreneurs, promoting small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and nurturing local women business leaders, especially those from historically underrepresented communities.    As a flagship program promoting entrepreneurship through increased trade, AWE aligns seamlessly with the U.S. Strategy of Global Women’s Economic Security, which envisions a world where women and girls from diverse backgrounds can fully, meaningfully, and equally contribute to and benefit from global economic growth and prosperity.    The second cohort of the AWE program is set to empower 90 participants from three distinct geographic locations: Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet. Participants from Chattogram and Sylhet will join sessions at the EMK Center virtually through Zoom. The program's goal this year is to recruit participants from historically underrepresented, indigenous, and minority communities, as well as women aged 20-45 who have traditionally been excluded from participation in formal training programs. As a U.S. government exchange initiative, AWE connects women with American learning and expertise, fostering stronger ties among women entrepreneurs across diverse American and Bangladeshi markets.    The AWE Program is in collaboration with Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management (ASU) and the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, the creators of DreamBuilder—a no-cost online learning platform. This platform imparts fundamental business skills from a U.S. perspective and offers access to soft-skills training to enhance participants’ overall business acumen.     The AWE Program is a comprehensive three-month course tailored for aspiring women entrepreneurs.  The program provides hands-on training in Bangla conducted by industry experts, focusing on core business skills with an emphasis on sustainability.    AWE strongly emphasizes peer-to-peer learning, networking, and fostering cohesion among graduating women entrepreneurs, contributing significantly to local prosperity and business growth.  According to the 2021 evaluation by the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), 74 percent of AWE graduates reported experiencing higher incomes, and 29 percent hired additional staff in their businesses post-program.  This data underscores the capacity of AWE alumni to generate revenue and create job opportunities in their communities.     By fundamentally empowering women, AWE actively promotes their full economic participation.  The study reveals that over 90 percent of AWE graduates reported increased confidence and higher self-esteem, attributing improvements to specific skill sets such as independent decision-making, strategic planning, and public speaking.  These skills have proven invaluable for women-led businesses adapting to economic challenges, including those posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.  The AWE project aligns directly with the U.S. National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality.   

Professor Sadeka Halim has been appointed as the new vice chancellor of Jagannath University (JnU).  Currently, she is serving as the chairperson of the sociology department at Dhaka University.  Professor Halim's appointment was announced in a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Education on Thursday. Honorable President Mohammed Shahabuddin made the appointment for the next four years. Professor Sadeka Halim holds the distinction of being the country's first female information commissioner and she was a member of the National Education Policy Formulation Committee-2010. She began her teaching career at Dhaka University in 1988. She also earned her PhD from McGill University in Canada. She began her teaching career at Dhaka University in 1988 and earned her PhD from McGill University in Canada. Eventually, her father, Fazlul Halim Chowdhury, is a former vice chancellor of Dhaka University.

DHAKA, November 28, 2023 – U.S. Embassy Dhaka’s Education USA center hosted a meet-up between American undergraduate students and their Bangladeshi counterparts at the new EMK Center on Gulshan Avenue. The 13 American economics students traveled to Dhaka from Carleton College, one of the top ten liberal arts colleges in the United States (according to U.S. News and World Report).   Carleton students met with Bangladeshi students from several local institutions, including Scholastica, Aga Khan Academy, the University of Dhaka, and Jahangirnagar University to exchange ideas and foster a deeper understanding of U.S. higher education. The session also included a presentation on how the U.S. government supports economic growth in Bangladesh.  For the past decade, the number of Bangladeshi students pursuing higher studies in the United States have increased by more than 300%.  According to the 2023 Open Doors Report, the number of Bangladeshi students in the United States reached an all-time high (13,563) in the 2022-2023 academic year.  Education USA centers across Bangladesh offer free virtual and in-person advising for Bangladeshi students and scholars about the U.S. higher education application process.  Sessions include information on different types of academic programs, funding and scholarship opportunities, and U.S. government-sponsored academic and professional exchange programs.  For more information, please visit:   https://www.facebook.com/EdUSABangladesh or e-mail [email protected]. EMK Center Address: Level 6, CES(A) 1/A, Road, 113 Gulshan Ave, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh