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 was articulated in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) election manifesto for Bangladesh’s 13th national election. The manifesto states that "Priority will be given to moving students away from rote learning and toward constructive creativity, analytical thinking, and skill development.”
Reform Initiated
Last Update: 10-Sep-26
On 19 February 2026, the State Minister for Primary and Mass Education stated that the government was working to introduce an item-bank and blueprint-based examination system to encourage creative thinking instead of memorisation. On 3 March 2026, the Education Minister said that existing textbooks would be revised and a new curriculum formulated, with regular assessment intended to help students develop creativity and other abilities.
Observation
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The current government has reaffirmed this pledge through its proposed curriculum reforms and the FY2026–27 Budget Speech. The Budget Speech reemphasised creativity, analytical thinking, problem-solving and application-based learning, along with real-life competencies such as leadership, innovation and teamwork. It also highlights skilled teachers, research and innovation, technology-based education, labour-market-relevant curricula, and club-based activities such as debates, science fairs, cultural events and literary activities. As a complementary effort, the “Startup, Science Project and Innovation Idea Showcasing” programme also provided practical opportunities for students from Classes VI–XII to present science projects, startup proposals and innovative ideas through upazila/thana, district and national stages. It may be noted that the programme was implemented under the pre-existing Learning Acceleration in Secondary Education (LAISE) Project and Educational Excellence Support Scheme (EESS).