Year
2026
Reform Domain
Manifesto Watch
Education
Sub Domain
Education and Human Resource Development
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 is included in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s election manifesto for Bangladesh’s 13th national election. The manifesto states that "Quality universal pre-primary education and Early Childhood Development (ECD) will be ensured so that children’s cognitive and social development is built on a strong foundation. Along with good books and a good syllabus, emphasis will be placed on social, religious, and moral value education. Mother-tongue-based learning will be prioritised. At the same time, a unified kindergarten education policy will be adopted to ensure good governance and quality standards in the system.”
Reform Initiated
Last Update: 10-Sep-26
Reportedly, on 21 June 2026 the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education initiated work on the 2028 primary curriculum reform. The proposed new curriculum places greater emphasis on value-based education, including family values, moral education, civic responsibility, and religious and cultural consciousness, alongside foundational literacy, numeracy, and digital learning materials.
On 14 July 2026, the Education Minister told Parliament that pre-primary and primary textbooks were being developed and distributed in Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Garo and Santal. Mother-tongue instruction had also been included in the weekly class routine. To support this, 450 teachers were being trained in 15 batches at five Primary Teachers’ Training Institutes in 2026. The government had also taken a policy decision to expand multilingual education to more indigenous languages. As part of the wider primary education reform, the minister said the government was also preparing a national policy for all types of primary education institutions, including kindergartens. The policy aims to ensure the teaching of core subjects from the mainstream primary curriculum and improve learning standards.
On 14 July 2026, the Education Minister told Parliament that pre-primary and primary textbooks were being developed and distributed in Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Garo and Santal. Mother-tongue instruction had also been included in the weekly class routine. To support this, 450 teachers were being trained in 15 batches at five Primary Teachers’ Training Institutes in 2026. The government had also taken a policy decision to expand multilingual education to more indigenous languages. As part of the wider primary education reform, the minister said the government was also preparing a national policy for all types of primary education institutions, including kindergartens. The policy aims to ensure the teaching of core subjects from the mainstream primary curriculum and improve learning standards.
Observation
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According to the Annual Primary School Statistics 2024, pre-primary education was available in 88.11 per cent of primary institutions nationwide. However, coverage remains much lower in some segments, particularly Ebtadayee madrasas at 45.53 per cent and high-madrasa-attached Ebtadayee at 20.93 per cent. As the government advances teacher training, mother-tongue-based learning and a national policy for primary education institutions, greater attention to these lower-coverage segments will be important for moving towards universal pre-primary access.