Primary curriculum to be refined: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today told parliament that the government has taken decision for refining the curriculum of the primary education by 2019-20.

“The decision has been taken to refine the curriculum at the primary-level for introducing fresh educational activities in the primary schools,” she said replying to a starred question from Awami League MP Mohammad Shahiduzzaman (Meherpur-2).

The prime minister said the curriculum from pre-primary level to Class-V will be refined within 2019-20 and the textbooks, printed in line with the new curriculum, will be handed to the students in the next year.

She also mentioned different measures taken to make teachers of government educational institutes attentive to teaching in the classroom.

Hasina said the government has a plan to arrange seven-day foreign trips or oversees training for 7,000 primary school teachers including the best teachers at national, divisional, district and upazila levels.

Digital universities

In reply to a supplementary question from treasury bench lawmaker Dr Shamil Uddin Ahmed Shimul (Chapainawabganj-1), Hasina said, the government has a goal to establish a ‘digital university’ in every division by phases.

She said the government has already established a digital university --Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Digital University in Dhaka’s Gazipur.

'Oikyafront’s decision to boycott JS politically wrong'

Describing the BNP-led Jatiya Oikyafront’s (JOF) decision to boycott parliament as “politically wrong”, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today reiterated her call to them to join the Jatiya Sangsad (JS), reports BSS.

“There will be a call of mine to those who were elected parliament members that they will come to the Jatiya Sangsad and speak here … I expect it from them,” she said replying to a supplementary from Jatiya Party lawmaker Fakhrul Imam.

The Leader of the House said if they come to parliament they will get a scope to speak in the House.

This opportunity will only not be limited to the Jatiya Sangsad, she said, adding that the people could know their words as the parliamentary proceedings are directly broadcast through media including Sangsad Television.

The premier said those who got few seats after participating in the elections are not coming to parliament making huff. “I think they’ve taken a wrong decision politically,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the people are the owners of the vote, they will cast their vote as per their choice and have given it in this way.

While talking about her dialogue with political parties before the December 30 polls, Sheikh Hasina said: “We wanted that all will work unitedly to build Bangladesh. So before the election, I invited all political parties to a dialogue so that they take part in the elections.”

The prime minister said the talks were held later in a beautiful environment.

About her party’s landslide victory in the last general polls, the Leader of the House said the people have got the fruits of development that took place in the last 10 years of the Awami League government.

“As they got the fruits of uplift, they took a decision much earlier that will cast vote for boat and they’ve given that vote to us,” she said.

The prime minister expressed her determination to build Bangladesh as the most developed, prosperous and peaceful country in South Asia.

“As long as I will remain alive, I will continue work for the continued development and progress of the country Insha Allah,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh as an independent and self-dignified country will maintain good relations with other countries of the world in the days to come.

The premier said Awami League government’s unprecedented success in different indexes of socioeconomic development for 10 years has established Bangladesh as a role model of development in the world.

“This has been possible due to our people-friendly policy and implementation of the programmes as well as hard labour and cooperation of the people … for it I extend my sincere thanks to the countrymen,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina informed the House that heads of state and government as well as chiefs of different international bodies totalling 97 countries and organisations extended their heartfelt congratulations to her on securing absolute majority by the Awami League in the December 30 elections and being elected the prime minister for the fourth time.