Development in Education in Bangladesh 1975-77: A Country Report.

Overview & Synopsis

The report on education in Bangladesh summarizes educational trends since 1971 and objectives of the first five year plan (1973-78). Population growth and illiteracy are the two major national problems. During the liberation war many students left schools to join the army, and most school buildings were either demolished or closed down. Thus, immediate tasks for education involve reopening schools to provide minimum physical facilities, and defining the function of education in the changed sociocultural context. Strategies for national educational development include integration of education with rural development, promotion of nonformal education, and introduction of population education. Efforts to eliminate illiteracy are aimed mainly at the adult population. Attitudes must be changed to accept technological development; literacy programs must encourage self-reliance and introduce technological innovation. Nonformal and community education programs stress these needs. In the schools, Bangla has replaced English as the language of instruction, but textbooks are not readily available in Bangla. Reorganization of the overly centralized system of educational administration is needed. (AV)