—Md Farooque Hossain—

In an increasingly interconnected world, the quality of a nation’s education system plays a pivotal role in shaping its global standing. For Bangladesh, a country with a young and vibrant population, the inability to produce graduates who meet international standards has become a grave concern.

The recent exclusion of Bangladesh from the CEO World Magazine’s 2024 report on “Countries with Best Performing Education Systems” speaks volumes about the challenges facing the nation’s higher education sector. This report, which ranks 93 countries based on their potential to produce future global leaders, points to yawning gaps in Bangladesh’s education system, raising questions about the employability and competitiveness of its graduates on the global stage.

Bangladesh’s higher education system is plagued by systemic issues that stymie its ability to produce globally competitive graduates. With 163 universities operating in the country, only a handful meets international standards. The majority of these institutions face chronic shortages of qualified teachers, inadequate research facilities and out-dated curricula. These shortcomings are reflected in their poor standings in global university rankings.

For instance, in the 2024 Times Higher Education ranking, no Bangladeshi university made the cut among the top 800 universities worldwide. This is a stark contrast to neighbouring countries like India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which have made significant strides in improving their education systems.

The CEO World Magazine’s report categorises education systems into two indices: the Quality Index and the Opportunity Index. The Quality Index evaluates factors such as the education system’s structure, research output, industry affiliations and the impact of academic education. The Opportunity Index, on the other hand, considers literacy rates, graduation rates and education budgets. Bangladesh’s poor performance in both indices highlights the urgent need for reform. The country’s education system struggles to equip students with the specialised skills and practical knowledge required to thrive in the global job market.

The consequences of these shortcomings are plain to see in the employment landscape. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, unemployed graduates rose from 799,000 in 2022 to 906,000 in 2023, revealing the chasm between university education and job market demands. Local employers often express dissatisfaction with the professional skills of Bangladeshi graduates, leading to a preference for hiring senior management personnel from other countries.

The lack of international recognition for Bangladeshi degrees further exacerbates the problem. Many graduates seeking opportunities abroad have discovered that their degrees are not recognised as equivalent to those in countries such as Australia, the UK, or the United States, significantly limiting their employment prospects. As a result, they are often required to complete additional courses to meet the academic standards of foreign universities.

One of the most significant barriers to improving the quality of education in Bangladesh is the lack of emphasis on research and industry collaboration. In developed countries, universities work closely with industries to ensure that their curricula align with market demands. This collaboration enables students to gain practical experience and develop skills that are directly applicable in the workplace. In contrast, Bangladeshi universities often operate in isolation, with limited engagement with the private sector.

Industry insiders emphasise the importance of internships and practical training in bridging this gap. They stressed that Bangladeshi students abroad often access internships alongside academics, gaining valuable skills before entering the job market—opportunities scarce in Bangladesh, where internships are poorly integrated into the education system.

To address these challenges, Bangladesh must undertake comprehensive reforms to align its education system with global standards. This includes updating curricula to reflect the demands of the global job market, investing in research facilities and adopting collaboration between universities and industries. Furthermore, the government must prioritise the recruitment of qualified teachers and allocate adequate budgets to ensure the effective implementation of these reforms.

The establishment of quality assurance mechanisms is also crucial. Currently, there is no mechanism in place to validate the skills and knowledge acquired by students during their higher education. Enforcing such systems would enhance the credibility of Bangladeshi degrees and improve the employability of graduates both at home and abroad.

Our country can draw valuable lessons from its neighbours, which has made marked progress in improving its education system. India’s emphasis on research, industry collaboration, and internationalisation has enabled its graduates to secure positions in multinational companies worldwide. Similarly, Sri Lanka has garnered recognition for the quality of its education system, producing graduates who are competitive in the global market.

On the whole, the exclusion of Bangladesh from CEO World Magazine’s 2024 report serves as a wake-up call for the nation’s education sector. While the challenges are significant, they are not insurmountable. The future of the country’s youth and its global standing depend on the steps taken to reform and revitalise the education system. By prioritising research, promoting industry collaboration, aligning curricula with global demands and implementing quality assurance mechanisms, Bangladesh can transform its education system and produce graduates who are competitive on the world stage.

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The writer is IT Professional who works for Thakral Information Systems Pvt. Ltd, Dhaka. Email: [email protected]