Nahid says "for modern madrasa education to develop competent manpower"

In an effort to modernize madrasa education, massive initiatives have already been taken to bring qualitative change in the education system to develop competent manpower, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said today.

After assuming power, the present government has attached highest priority to enhance quality of madrasa education, he told a workshop in the conference room of Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics (BANBEIS) here.

BANBEIS organized the workshop titled "Enhancement of ICT and Arabic Language Skills of teachers and establishment of smart classroom and IMS in madrasa education".

Education Secretray Md Nazrul Islam Khan, Director General of Directorate of Madrasa Education Md Billal Hossain and senior officials, among others, addressed the workshop with Director of Directorate of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Prof Fahima Khatun in the chair.

Nahid said some 1300 new buildings have been constructed as part of infrastructure development and 35 model madrasas set up to offer modern and quality education.

People are reluctant to send their brilliant students to madrasas as they think it is only for religious education, he said adding, "This mindset should be changed... We are taking steps to incorporate all types of education in the madrasa to create global standard citizens."

Referring to examples of Islamic education system in different Muslim countries, the minister said educational institutions of those countries are imparting scientific and technological knowledge alongside Islamic education for better survival in the competitive world.

"Arabic language skill is very important for Bangladeshi students as Middle-East is the largest overseas job market for us. So, Arabic language should be emphasized in madrasa education to create human resources with good communication skills," Nahid said.