State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj on Sunday said the country’s education system had deteriorated significantly over the past two decades, claiming that Bangladesh’s Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) level is often compared to Singapore’s sixth-grade standard.

Speaking during a general discussion on the supplementary budget for FY2026-27 in Parliament, Hajjaj said years of neglect had weakened educational standards, leaving many students unable to pass university admission tests.

He said the government has undertaken major reforms in primary education, including curriculum development, teacher training, infrastructure improvement and administrative restructuring, to reverse the decline.

The state minister also defended the inclusion of sports and cultural activities in the primary school curriculum, criticising opponents for what he described as negative campaigns against the initiative.

Highlighting the government’s commitment to education, Hajjaj said budgetary allocation for the sector has been increased to 2 percent of GDP from around 1.3-1.4 percent in previous years, with a long-term goal of raising it to 5 percent.

He expressed optimism that the reforms would help transform Bangladesh’s education system into one that can compete on the global stage.