Year
2026
Reform Domain
Manifesto Watch
Education
Source of Reform Proposals
Election Manifesto of Bangladesh Nationalist Party - BNP
Reform Proposed
Reform Initiated
Legal and Policy Framework
Operationalisation
Action Implementation
Stage of Implementation
Reform Proposed
Last Update: 10-Sep-26
This pledge has been articulated in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) election manifesto for Bangladesh’s 13th National Election. The manifesto stated that "While giving the highest priority to religious education, the government will create adequate opportunities for Madrasa students to learn ICT and take freelancing-related courses. Incentives and facilities will be increased to ensure madrasa students can enter technical training institutes without any hindrance. Madrasa curricula will include more career-based and vocational subjects. Alongside religious studies, there will be provision for science, technology, IT, English, and other languages, so madrasa students are not left behind in productive work, jobs at home and abroad, other professions, or admission to higher education.”
Reform Initiated
Last Update: 10-Sep-26
On 8 April 2026, the Prime Minister informed Parliament about the government’s plan to modernise madrasah education and make it more responsive to current needs by establishing smart classrooms, providing training to strengthen teachers’ skills, and introducing technical courses in madrasah education.
On 21 April 2026, it was reported that the government was preparing to roll out the NextGen Education Program (NGEP) 2026–2030, a Tk 2,374.08 crore initiative to modernise madrasah and technical education through new classrooms, ICT and science labs, smart classrooms, a Learning Management System, a Unified Assessment System, and training for at least 100,000 teachers.
On 23 April 2026, the Education Minister announced in Parliament that the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), in coordination with the Technical and Madrasa Education Division, had taken steps under a dedicated project to modernise curriculum and assessment. The initiatives included third-language learning and expansion of vocational education. On 8 June 2026, the education minister stated in a press conference that the government had planned to include a major section within the existing curriculum framework to help students learn a third language.
On 21 April 2026, it was reported that the government was preparing to roll out the NextGen Education Program (NGEP) 2026–2030, a Tk 2,374.08 crore initiative to modernise madrasah and technical education through new classrooms, ICT and science labs, smart classrooms, a Learning Management System, a Unified Assessment System, and training for at least 100,000 teachers.
On 23 April 2026, the Education Minister announced in Parliament that the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), in coordination with the Technical and Madrasa Education Division, had taken steps under a dedicated project to modernise curriculum and assessment. The initiatives included third-language learning and expansion of vocational education. On 8 June 2026, the education minister stated in a press conference that the government had planned to include a major section within the existing curriculum framework to help students learn a third language.
Observation
-
Several policymakers have expressed keen commitment to implement this pledge and mentioned concrete steps towards this. Progress is therefore visible, but implementation remains at an early stage.