CCTV classrooms, reforms promised, yet education system questioned
Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon today said the government will establish a modern 'multipurpose examination centre' in every upazila to ensure that regular teaching activities are not disrupted during public examinations.
"The existing examination system results in the loss of two precious years in students' lives, which a major obstacle to achieving the demographic dividend," he said.
The minister made these remarks while addressing a view-exchange meeting with centre secretaries of the Sylhet region ahead of the SSC and equivalent examinations-2026, organized by the Board of Intermediate and Higher Secondary Education, Sylhet.
Dr Milon said the government is working to allocate five percent of GDP to the education sector to ensure quality education.
"We are not only focusing on infrastructure development, but also on the quality and reform of education. CCTV cameras have been installed in every classroom to ensure the quality of teaching," he added.
The minister requested members of parliament to monitor schools in their respective constituencies using their smartphones through CCTV camera access codes.
Regarding teacher shortages and recruitment, Dr Milon said efforts are underway to resolve complications related to 32,500 primary school head teacher cases.
He added that the process of recruiting about 60,000 primary school teachers will begin soon. He also said a 'pool' of retired experienced teachers is being formed to serve as part-time teachers in institutions facing shortages.
Warning about malpractice in examinations, the minister said cheating has taken new forms and must be eliminated through improved quality education. He urged teachers to remain more sincere in evaluating answer scripts.
The minister further said 18 primary schools affected by the expansion of the Sylhet-Dhaka highway will be included in a reconstruction project on a priority basis. The government is working to expand technical education and strengthen moral education, he added.
Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury, speaking as special guest, said skilled manpower development would increase overseas employment opportunities.
He also drew attention to the modernization of the education system in the Sylhet region.
Lawmaker Advocate Emran Ahmed Chowdhury, Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Md Sarwar Alam, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology VC Prof Dr AM Sarwaruddin Chowdhury, Madrasa Education Board Chairman Prof Mia Md Nurul Haque and Technical Education Board Chairman Engineer Md Ruhul Amin, among others, attended the event with BIHSE Sylhet Chairman Md Anwar Hossain Chowdhury in the chair.
