Primary curriculum set for 12-month life-skills

The government plans to introduce 12 life-oriented themes throughout the year in the primary education curriculum to enhance students’ safety awareness, life skills and practical knowledge.

Primary and Mass Education Minister Bobby Hajjaj disclosed the plan while addressing the Safeguarding Leadership Summit, jointly organised by Haileybury Bhaluka and Cambridge at Le Méridien Dhaka on Wednesday (September 16).

“We want primary students not only to gain academic knowledge from textbooks but also to learn practical life skills—how to stay safe, lead responsibly and handle different situations,” he stated.

The minister said curriculum reform is currently underway, with a plan to introduce one life-oriented theme for each month.

Under the proposed approach, lessons in different subjects will incorporate examples, numbers, questions and discussions related to the theme of the month, enabling students to connect classroom learning with real-life situations.

“For example, if fire safety is selected as a monthly theme, mathematics, language and other subjects may include examples and discussions related to fire safety,” Hajjaj said.

Other themes may include road safety, water safety, health and hygiene, disaster preparedness and other issues closely linked to children’s everyday lives.

He added that the government is also working on policies to ensure minimum standards of safety and education quality across all types of primary-level educational institutions.

“Those institutions that already have better facilities than the required standards will be able to go further,” he said, adding that the government wants to ensure minimum standards for all while learning from successful initiatives to improve the overall quality of primary education.

The minister said the government wants to work with educational institutions not merely as a regulator but also as a partner.

“We want to learn from everyone’s experience and good initiatives. At the same time, through government policies and support, we want to establish a common standard for primary education across the country,” he stated.

Former Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr SMA Faiz, representatives of education-related organisations, teachers and students attended the summit.

-AAH