Bangladesh is redesigning primary education. Religious, family and civic values will play a larger role.

Bangladesh is developing a curriculum aimed at strengthening foundational learning and incorporating religious, family and civic values, state minister for education Bobby Hajjaj said.

National specialists and international organizations are collaborating on the curriculum. A first draft of a new policy for primary teachers is expected by Aug. 17 before review by experts and stakeholders.

“Our main goal in the primary education system is to make foundational learning exactly 100% solid and to strongly introduce values-related education — meaning your religious values, your family values, civic values — into primary education,” Hajjaj said.

Under the planned 2028 curriculum, students in classes four and five will study sports and cultural subjects, including music, dance, drama, debate and Quran recitation. The government aims to add at least eight sports within three years.

Hajjaj rejected claims that music teachers had been banned. He said specialized teachers would not be hired through the revenue sector, but the ministry is considering training current teachers and alternative recruitment pathways for university graduates.

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