Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has emphasized that without a time-appropriate education curriculum, it will be difficult for Bangladesh to remain competitive globally. Speaking at the University Grants Commission’s national workshop at Dhaka University’s Senate Building on Tuesday morning, he said students must focus on innovation rather than rote learning. The workshop was inaugurated to discuss the development and sustainable transformation of the country’s higher education system.

Rahman stated that the government aims to nurture talent instead of allowing brain drain, preparing students to face future challenges. He noted that unemployment remains high due to a lack of skill development alongside academic learning, and that efforts are underway to modernize the academic syllabus. The government plans to introduce innovation grants from college to university levels and make technical education mandatory from the school level.

He also called on educators to engage alumni established at home and abroad in advancing education and research, warning that reliance solely on traditional learning would make survival in a competitive world increasingly difficult.