PM seeks teachers' support to build humane BD

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday called on primary school teachers to play a leading role in building a "humane Bangladesh", saying children should receive moral values, compassion, cultural awareness and a sense of responsibility towards nature alongside academic education from an early age.

Speaking at the Primary Education Medal-2026 award ceremony at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Agargaon, the Prime Minister said the government considers strengthening primary education one of its highest priorities, describing primary schools, teachers and students as the three key pillars of nation-building.

Referring to the government's election pledge, he announced that female students would be able to study tuition-free up to the honours level under a new government decision. He also said scholarships would be introduced for meritorious female students pursuing higher education.

Announces free honours education for women, unveils plan to plant 250m trees in 5 years

The Prime Minister said the government is working to address teachers' problems while improving their professional skills through better training.

"If we can provide our primary teachers with proper training, they will pass that knowledge on to children and help build a strong educational foundation from the very beginning," he said.

He urged schools to place equal emphasis on character-building alongside academic education, saying children should grow up with honesty, discipline, responsibility and compassion.

"If we can nurture ethics and values in our children, we will gradually become a more disciplined and stronger nation," he said, adding that the government also plans to better incorporate family, social and religious values into future curricula.

Highlighting the importance of extracurricular activities, he said schools should organise more debates, cultural programmes, poetry recitations, music and sports to help develop confident, creative and capable citizens.

Earlier, the Prime Minister inaugurated the nationwide Green School tree plantation campaign by planting a sapling. Nearly 200,000 saplings were planted simultaneously across the country with the participation of government primary schools.