The Directorate of Primary Education (DPE), under the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education and the British Council have formalised a partnership set to shape the future of primary education across Bangladesh. Through a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), this collaboration will launch a crucial initiative to support the government’s upcoming Primary Education Development Plan (PEDP5).
One of the main goals of this partnership is to identify the initiatives which are needed to improve the professional skills of English teachers in primary schools. Another key aspect of this initiative is to collect data through a needs analysis, as the their role is often overlooked in professional development planning. In a unique and holistic approach, the initiative will also assess the needs of middle-tier education officials, who provide direct support to teachers but are often overlooked in professional development planning. The findings from this analysis will provide the DPE with vital data to make evidence-based decisions for designing the PEDP5 framework.
During the signing ceremony, Abu Noor Md. Shamsuzzaman, Director General of the DPE, said, “This collaboration is a timely and important step forward. This needs analysis conducted by the British Council will be incredibly helpful for the strategic planning of PEDP5. We look forward to more collaborations in the future.”
In his remarks, David Knox, Director Programmes Bangladesh at the British Council, noted that the partnership builds on a long and rich history of cooperation between the British Council and the Government of Bangladesh, spanning more than 70 years. He stated, “Our goal is to capture data from both rural and urban settings, recognising that the vast majority of our primary teachers are based in rural areas. Addressing gender-related obstacles is also a central focus of this analysis, as most primary teachers are women, and they deserve an equitable approach to professional development. By also understanding the needs of middle-tier officials, we can ensure that the entire support system for teachers is strengthened.”
Following the director’s remarks, Shamresh Saha, Senior Programme Manager, British Council, shared a detailed plan on how the initiative will be implemented based on guidance from the DPE.
The signing ceremony, facilitated by Mohammad Atiqur Rahman, Additional Director General (PEDP4), was underscored by the presence of high-level officials from both organisations. The Directorate of Primary Education was also represented by Md. Mahbubur Rahman Billah, A.K. Mohammad Shamsul Ahsan, Raja Muhammad Abdul Hai, and other senior officials. The British Council delegation included Imran Saifur and Sahelee Naz. The ceremony concluded with a shared commitment from both parties to deepen their collaboration for the advancement of education in Bangladesh.