No Educational Reform Without Youth Participation — UNESCO Head
Viez made the remarks on24 January, Saturday at a discussion held at the International Mother Language Institute in Dhaka, marking International Education Day 2026.
Highlighting the role of youth in national development, she noted, “Bangladesh’s young people have already demonstrated their capacity for change through participation in science fairs and creative initiatives. However, significant challenges remain in ensuring quality education.”
She cited the 2023 assessment, which found that nearly 54% of eighth-grade students lack the required proficiency in Bengali, with even more concerning results in mathematics. These gaps hinder the overall objectives of education.
Viez stressed that today’s youth want their ideas and innovations reflected in educational policy. Integrating their practical proposals into curriculum and teaching methods could bring significant improvements within a few years.
She also announced that over the next four years, UNESCO and UNICEF will work closely with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education to enhance teacher professional development, urging educators to act as mentors and facilitators, not just knowledge transmitters.
The event was attended by Education Adviser Professor Dr. Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar as the chief guest and presided over by Sarvina Monir, Deputy Secretary-General of the Bangladesh National Commission for UNESCO.
