Focusing on education is essential to changing the trajectory of a nation, because, at the end of the day, a nation is built by its people—and those people are shaped by education.

Education is like a passport to the future for any nation. If we look at all the world's superpowers and ask why they became superpowers, yes, the economy plays a role, but education is just as important. The highest-ranking universities are in the most developed countries—whether in the UK, the US, Canada, or the Scandinavian nations. Education reflects a nation's prosperity because a sound and educated population produces ideas and innovations that drive the economy forward.

It's important to identify what worked in the past and what is needed for the future. Whether in Bangladesh or elsewhere, one of the best aspects of past education was its focus on morality, ethics, and character-building. These values were always a part of learning. The teachers also used to live morally and thus led by example. In society, they were treated respectfully for their wisdom and were consulted on many issues. Some villages in Bangladesh still have that.

In Korea, the suburbs of the UK, the US, and Australia, basic manners are still taught—not to litter, how to behave at home, how to take care of animals, to have compassion, to be respectful, and even how to hold a fork and knife properly.

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We also lack pedagogy- or andragogy-based teaching, meaning that teachers aren't able to transfer the knowledge they have in their respective fields to the students. This is because, even though they acquire education and degrees in certain subjects, they never really learn how to teach.

In Bangladesh, we are no longer doing that. There was a time when education focused on standards, on teaching morality and character. But in our attempt to modernise, we have not only failed to truly modernise but have also lost the essence of what was once there.

The second issue is preparing for the future. We have not done well in equipping our workforce with future-ready skills. According to the World Economic Forum, 65 percent of jobs will require some sort of reskilling. This means that the skills needed in the new world are very different.

Coding, for example, must become fundamental. It should be as important as maths, physics, or history—because that is the future. Students may not gain as much from history or literature in their professional lives, but they will undoubtedly need technology and an understanding of it. That is where our education system is falling behind. School education has still not integrated these skills, we lack resources, and the focus simply isn't there.

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Education is a shared responsibility

Outcome-based learning is also missing in our curriculum. The way our education is designed is quantity-based. There is a specific quantity of material that needs to be "finished" for one's education to be considered complete. The understanding of the implementation of the syllabus is absent.

There are three key areas we need to address:

The gap between industry and academia

Industries often say they are looking for top talent. It's not that jobs aren't available but rather that they aren't finding the right candidates. The reason? The pace at which industries evolve is not matched by academia.

What was taught in the 1990s about marketing is still being taught today, yet marketing itself has changed dramatically. It's no longer just about placing ads in newspapers or on television. Now, it's about digital marketing, influencer strategies, and data-driven decisions. But are students being taught this? Probably not. Yet, in reality, this is what works.

Unlike places like Silicon Valley, we don't have strong collaborations between academia and industry. Most industries have little involvement with universities beyond occasional guest lectures or event sponsorships. They aren't actively shaping the curriculum, brainstorming solutions, or ensuring students graduate with relevant skills. This needs to change. Universities must work more closely with industries; update syllabuses based on real-world needs and involve professionals in teaching.

Lack of research and innovation

Bangladesh ranks very poorly in research. We don't have enough academic collaborations, and because of this, our critical thinking is weak. This has even bigger national consequences.

We are becoming a follower nation rather than an innovator or leader. Research gives us breakthroughs, new ideas, and critical thinking skills that allow us to challenge the status quo. Without research, we cannot develop new concepts, innovations, or industries.

The focus should not just be on increasing the number of academic publications but on ensuring that research is meaningful and impactful.

The need for a hybrid education model

The education system needs to shift towards a more flexible model—one that follows a "just-in-time" and "just-in-need" approach. Today, people learn more from YouTube, Google, and AI than from traditional education. If someone needs to learn something, they look it up instantly.

The much-talked-about Gen Z and Gen Alpha are no strangers to technology. In fact, many children belonging to Gen Alpha are exposed to smartphones and gadgets before they are exposed to books and pen-paper. Now, it is a matter of much debate how healthy this is for the development of young minds and what the future consequences of it are. But the fact remains that they are much more comfortable with technology than previous generations. The strength of this should be utilised by properly integrating technology into teaching in schools.

This means we need more specialist modules, more microlearning, and a system that adapts to the realities of how people learn today. Attention spans are shorter, and the demand for quick, relevant knowledge is higher. Education must evolve to match this.

We need to rethink our education system. We need to bring back moral and character-building lessons while also preparing students for the future. We need stronger ties between universities and industries, more research and innovation, and a system that embraces modern ways of learning.

Only then can we build a Bangladesh that is not just educated but ready to lead.

Ashfaq Zaman is the founder of Dhaka Forum and a strategic international affairs expert.

Views expressed in this article are the author's own.

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