During a campus visit in Sunamganj, Siddiqur Zobair outlines government’s ambitious plans for education reform, infrastructure, and timely textbook distribution 

The education sector in Bangladesh is poised to receive the highest-ever budget allocation in the upcoming 2025-26 fiscal year, according to Siddiqur Zobair, Senior Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division (SHED). He made this announcement during his visit to the Sunamganj Science and Technology University (SUSTU) on Friday, where he was inspecting the venue for the university’s second phase of cluster admission tests.

While addressing the local media shortly after noon, the senior secretary emphasized the government’s renewed focus on holistic educational reform and development. He stressed that education today must go beyond traditional classroom instruction and incorporate comprehensive infrastructure improvements, enhanced teacher training, and the expansion of digital learning tools across institutions.

As part of the government's reform strategy, several major projects have been launched to modernize educational infrastructure. These include the construction of new academic buildings, establishment of advanced science and computer laboratories, and the installation of multimedia classrooms in nearly every school. These efforts aim to ensure that students across the country have access to quality, tech-enabled education environments, regardless of their geographic location.

Zobair also addressed recent concerns regarding textbook distribution, admitting that the new curriculum changes introduced late last year led to printing delays. However, he highlighted that despite these hurdles, textbooks were delivered to all schools by March 20—earlier than most years in the past two decades, barring 2017. He clarified that students might not have received the books immediately due to the overlap with Ramadan and school closures, but assured that the government is already planning to streamline the process for next year.

In a marked shift from past delays, he said that the goal for the upcoming academic year is to ensure students can take home their new textbooks immediately after their annual examinations in December. This change, he noted, will be achieved through early curriculum planning, printing, and logistical coordination.

During the visit, Zobair also responded to questions about the permanent campus development of SUSTU. He confirmed that the government had completed land acquisition, site development, and master planning for the university through a dedicated project. However, while the groundwork is ready, he refrained from providing a specific timeline for the commencement of infrastructure construction. He noted that the development phase would begin shortly, but precise dates would depend on administrative and funding schedules.

The senior secretary was accompanied by top officials of Sunamganj Science and Technology University, including Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Nizam Uddin, Dean Harun Or Rashid, and Proctor Dr. Sheikh Abdul Latif, along with other members of the university administration.

SUSTU, the only cluster admission center in the Sylhet division, hosted the second phase of the nationwide entrance exam for the 2024-25 academic session on the same day. A total of 816 out of 922 registered candidates appeared for the ‘B’ unit exam, reflecting an attendance rate of 88.5 percent. Earlier, on April 25, the university facilitated the first phase of tests for the ‘C’ unit, where 195 out of 223 candidates took part. The third and final phase, scheduled for May 9, is expected to see participation from 2,854 candidates vying for seats under the ‘A’ unit.

With the government's growing focus on educational reform, digital innovation, and timely resource delivery, both policymakers and educators remain optimistic that the coming years will witness a transformative shift in Bangladesh’s education landscape. The substantial budget allocation expected next fiscal year is seen as a pivotal step toward realizing this vision.