ECNEC Endorses Five-Year Primary Education Plan Costing Tk 41,090 Crore

PEDP-5 will run from July 2026 to June 2031, targeting school infrastructure, teacher training, digital resources and support for more than 1.06 crore students.

This photograph taken on September 7, 2026 shows students studying inside the library at Dhaka University in Dhaka. Bangladesh's 2024 student-led uprising was fuelled by a demand that coveted government jobs be awarded on merit, not through quotas. The movement succeeded. The government was overthrown, and the quota system was largely scrapped -- but the reform has had unintended consequences with women securing a shrinking share of public sector jobs in the Muslim-majority nation of 170 million people. Photo by Salahuddin Ahmed / AFP via Getty Images

The government has approved a comprehensive five-year programme designed to upgrade the primary education sector nationwide. At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, officials cleared the fifth Primary Education Development Programme, or PEDP-5, with a total estimated outlay of Tk 41,090 crore. The initiative is set to begin in July 2026 and continue through June 2031, focusing on infrastructure, digital resources, teacher training and direct support for students.

A large share of the budget is allocated to improving the physical and technological environment of government primary schools. Roughly a quarter of the funds will cover the free distribution of school uniforms, including bags, clothing, shoes and socks, to more than 1.06 crore students. Education planners view this measure as a practical way to lower household costs and encourage consistent attendance, especially among children from modest-income families who often struggle with the recurring expense of school materials.

Technology forms another priority. Under the "One Teacher, One Tab" component, 383,513 tablets will be provided to teachers, alongside multimedia equipment and interactive flat panels for classrooms. The aim is to move beyond traditional chalkboard methods and give educators better tools for lesson planning, visual instruction and student interaction.

Officials expect these resources to help address gaps in teaching quality that have persisted in many rural and under-resourced schools.Infrastructure development accounts for a significant portion of the spending as well. The programme includes construction of 15,641 additional need-based classrooms, 1,500 wash blocks and 10,000 boundary walls. These projects are intended to ease overcrowding, improve hygiene facilities and create safer compounds, addressing long-standing complaints about inadequate or dilapidated school buildings across the country.

Training receives dedicated financing to strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy skills among students and to raise the professional standards of teachers, officials and support staff. The training activities are expected to reach more than 310,000 education personnel. Strengthening early reading, writing and basic mathematics remains a central objective, given that many children still leave primary school without solid mastery of these essentials.

On the financing side, approximately Tk 33,203 crore is planned from the government's own resources, while about Tk 7,887 crore is anticipated from external loans and grants. Development partners including the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the European Union and UNICEF have signalled support for various elements of the programme. An accompanying economic analysis estimates an internal rate of return of 17.3 percent and a benefit-cost ratio of 2.7, suggesting that the investment should generate positive long-term returns through improved human capital.

Primary education in Bangladesh has expanded access over the years, yet challenges of quality, equity and infrastructure remain. Many schools continue to operate with large class sizes, limited teaching aids and uneven teacher preparedness. The new programme seeks to tackle these issues simultaneously rather than through isolated projects. Success will depend on timely procurement, effective coordination between central and local authorities, and regular monitoring to ensure that classrooms, tablets and training actually reach the intended schools and staff.

Implementation is scheduled to start in mid-2026, giving authorities time to finalise detailed work plans, tender processes and district-level arrangements. Education officials have indicated that steady progress on construction, digital distribution and capacity building will be essential if the programme is to deliver measurable gains in student learning outcomes and school conditions by the end of the decade. The approval marks one of the larger single investments in primary education in recent years and reflects the government's stated priority of building stronger foundations for the country's young population.