- JICA and the Directorate of Primary Education held a seminar in Dhaka to review 20 years of JICA's
- highlighted the transformative impact of JICA's support on the education sector
- The event brought together various stakeholders to celebrate achievements
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Directorate of Primary Education have organized a seminar together named 'Review of 20 Years of JICA Cooperation for Primary Education in Bangladesh and Completion of JSP3 Project' today, i.e., May 14, 2025, in Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, Dhaka.
The event looked back at two decades of JICA's pivotal contribution to the development of the primary education sector in Bangladesh. It was the culmination of the successful implementation of the "JICA Support Program 3 for Strengthening Mathematics and Science in Primary Education Project" (JSP3).
Key personalities adorned the seminar, such as Professor Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Podder, Adviser of Ministry of Primary and Mass Education (MOPME), as the Chief Guest, H.E. Saida Shinichi, Japan Ambassador to Bangladesh, and Abu Taher Md. Masud Rana, MOPME Secretary, as Special Guests.
Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Podder thanked the Japanese government and JICA in earnest for their generous grant aid of 5 billion Japanese Yen to the Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP) 3 and 4. He emphasized the revolutionary effect of JICA's technical cooperation projects in transforming Bangladesh's primary education from a rote-learning model to an inquiry-based, child-centred model that develops thinking, imagination, and curiosity.
Abu Taher Md. Masud Rana, MOPME Secretary, recognized Bangladesh's serious financial problems as a result of global economic disturbances and requested the Government of Japan to extend its bountiful grant assistance towards the next PEDP5.
Mr. Ichiguchi Tomohide, Chief Representative of JICA Bangladesh, reflected on the past 20 years, emphasising JICA's focus on crucial areas such as teacher education development, teaching package development, the introduction of lesson study, and curriculum and textbook revision in mathematics and science. He also emphasised the importance of developing a long-term national vision for Bangladesh's education sector to guide strategic planning over the next two to three decades.
Abu Noor Md Shamsuzzaman, Director General, DPE, presided over the seminar. He conveyed his profound gratitude to JICA for its comprehensive assistance in enhancing the quality of continuous learning for students and teachers. He was hopeful that, with the continued support of JICA, the government would be able to hasten positive developments in the primary education teaching and learning environment.
The occasion witnessed the presence of representatives from some of the key organisations, such as Mopme, DPE, the National Academy for Primary Education (NAPE), the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), development partners, and other stakeholders of the education sector. The seminar offered a forum to commemorate past successes, exchange lessons gained, and extend further talks on future collaborations towards improving primary education in Bangladesh.
