Teaching must not be a last resort, says PM

Teaching can never be a profession of last resort or merely another job, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman declared on Monday, vowing to reform the education system and teacher recruitment so that the country's most meritorious people choose the classroom as their first career preference.

Addressing a discussion marking World Teachers' Day at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka, the Prime Minister asserted that the dignity of teachers is inextricably linked to the dignity and image of the state, and he stressed the need to safeguard their social status and financial security. He also directed that at least one primary and one secondary school teacher be invited to state-sponsored programmes marking major national occasions. Moreover, he said retired teachers should not have to visit offices repeatedly to claim salaries or retirement benefits, insisting that their entitled payments should reach them through banks on time.

Referring to the growing influence of artificial intelligence, Tarique argued that technology should empower teachers rather than supplant them. In this regard, he outlined the government's plans for digital lesson plans, question banks, student-progress assessment, multimedia classrooms and expanded free Wi-Fi. Furthermore, he championed curiosity-driven learning over rote memorisation and said a new "Learning with Happiness" book was being introduced for sixth-grade students.

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At the event, the government honoured 102 distinguished teachers, each of whom received Tk 200,000, a crest and a certificate in recognition of their contributions.