Teachers Hail Govt for New Independent Secondary Directorate

The Bangladesh Government Secondary Teachers’ Association has appreciated the interim government for establishing an independent Directorate of Secondary Education.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the association’s chief coordinator Rebeca Sultana and coordinator Abdus Salam termed the formation of a separate directorate as a major step toward fulfilling a long-cherished expectation of teachers, students, parents, and the country’s conscious citizens.

They said the timely and visionary decision would significantly contribute to improving the quality of secondary education and shaping students’ futures, while also making the administrative structure of the education sector more organized and efficient.

“We firmly believe that this initiative will help ensure quality education and effective service delivery,” the statement said, adding that the association remains committed to working together to establish a just and efficient administrative system across all levels of education — from primary to higher.

The teacher leaders expressed hope that the remaining tasks of implementing the new directorate would be completed soon. On behalf of the entire government secondary education community, they extended their heartfelt gratitude and congratulations to the Ministry of Education and all policymakers, officials, and stakeholders involved.

According to the association, the demand for a separate Directorate of Secondary Education dates back several decades. The 2003 Education Commission, chaired by noted educationist Professor Moniruzzaman Miah, and the subsequent National Education Policy 2010, both recommended forming two distinct entities — a Directorate of Secondary Education and a Directorate of Higher Education and Research.

The proposal was further supported by national workshops and studies conducted by the College Education Development Project (CEDP) under the Ministry of Education, and by the BIAM Foundation Research and Consultancy Service Centre, which advised restructuring the existing education administration into two directorates.

Following the Chief Adviser’s directive during a secretaries’ meeting on September 4 to formulate and implement reform plans, the Ministry of Education advanced the long-discussed reform initiative. In line with the time-bound reform plan submitted in November 2014 and recommendations from the Public Administration Reform Commission in January 2025, the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education has now been divided into two entities — the Directorate of Secondary Education and the Directorate of College Education.

The teachers’ association expressed deep gratitude to the Chief Adviser, the Education Adviser, and the Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division for their efforts in implementing this important reform aimed at improving the quality of secondary education.

Association leader Tanvir Ahmed said the establishment of the independent Directorate of Secondary Education marks a crucial step in meeting the long-standing aspirations of the nation’s education community. “This forward-looking initiative will enhance educational standards and strengthen the administrative framework for more effective service delivery,” he added.

He also hoped that all relevant authorities would continue their joint efforts to ensure the swift completion of the implementation process, reaffirming the teachers’ commitment to supporting education reforms for the nation’s greater good.