Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Dr Bidhan Ranjan Roy Podder today spoke as the chief guest at the presentation of a research report at the Directorate of Primary Education in the capital. Photo: PID

DHAKA, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS) - Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Dr Bidhan Ranjan Roy Podder today said the government is giving importance to developing every government primary school as an 'autonomous' one to ensure   quality of primary education.

Despite having limitations, many schools are doing excellent, he said, adding if every school can work like an autonomous body, and qualified head teachers can move forward through teamwork by involving parents, and then the quality of education will change radically.

He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the presentation of a research report titled 'Evaluation of the impact of involving government primary school teachers in extra-professional activities' at the Directorate of Primary Education in the capital. 

The event was organised by the National Academy of Primary Education (NAPE).

Podder said the government will provide the necessary budget and input to the schools.

In addition, he said, a 'third party' has been designed which will conduct academic assessment as a monitoring unit, which will research the achievements and qualifications of the students and provide necessary recommendations to the ministry.

He said there is a plan to complete the teachers’ recruitment and transfer process at the district level instead of the ministry to reduce the suffering of teachers.

Regarding the weakness of management, the adviser said: “Want of proper management is our big problem. Even though we talk about digitalisation, in many cases proper data is not available and there are loopholes in the application of technology.”

He said people's lives must be made easier and smarter by ensuring the proper use of technology.

The research report presented at the event highlighted the information that government primary school teachers do 37 types of extra-professional works per year. 

In this, a teacher spends an average of 24 hours a month. As a result, 90 percent of teachers are unable to pay full attention in the classroom and 85 percent of teachers are unable to take special classes for backward students.

At the same time, the adviser further said the purpose of this study is to create awareness among common people and related organisations, so that a positive social pressure is created not to use teachers for other purposes outside of education. 

He stressed formulation of a 'Teaching Hour Protection Policy' and the appointment of office assistants or digital assistants in every school.

Abu Taher Md Masud Rana, Secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, presided over the programme, while Abu Noor Md Shamsuzzaman, Director General of the Directorate of Primary Education, and Farid Ahmed, Director General of NEP were special guests.