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On this, the 104th anniversary of the birth of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Father of the Nation, I was thinking about ways to pay tribute to him. After the country's independence, Bangabandhu oversaw unprecedented progress in every sector, and his legacy will live on in indelible style. In particular, an analysis of how applicable his educational philosophy is to today's modern Bangladeshi context can be reviewed.
It should be noted here that Bangabandhu presented three aspects of his educational philosophy at the Bangladesh Chhatra League conference on August 19, 1973. First, we must prioritise the development of skilled manpower in our education system. Second, students should focus on becoming entrepreneurs rather than looking for jobs after graduation, since it will allow them to generate employment opportunities for others. Thirdly, technical education should be at the heart of our education system because the current system produces clerks. On the present education system, Bangabandhu has criticised it many times in his various speeches as it is unable to produce skilled manpower.
We wonder today how relevant the three pillars of Bangabandhu's philosophy of education, which he thought more than fifty years ago, are in today's context of human civilisation. How visionary was Bangabandhu? Under the leadership of prominent scientist and educationist Dr. Kudrat-E-Khuda, Bangabandhu constituted an Education Commission on July 26, 1972. The recommendations of the commission were in line with Bangabandhu's aim for a scientifically and technologically focused educational system. Tragically, Bangabandhu's brutal assassination on August 15, 1975, prevented the Education Commission's recommendations from being implemented in a timely manner. Consequently, in terms of scientific and technological progress, the country inevitably falls behind.
A workforce that is up-to-date and competent has not been produced. When compared to actual technological use, the entire educational system is decades behind. We are now living in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The development of entrepreneurial spirit and highly trained workers, as well as the expansion of scientific and technological knowledge and their application to the resolution of everyday issues, are hallmarks of the current industrial revolution. The fact that the three aforementioned pillars of Bangabandhu's educational philosophy align so closely with the core principles of the modern Fourth Industrial Revolution is truly astounding.
When Bangabandhu's daughter, the Hon'ble Prime Minister, assumed office in 1996, she continued her father's educational philosophy by establishing and planning a number of universities specialising in science and technology. While the years 2001–2008 show a departure from the original plan, the recent past fifteen have seen the establishment of numerous universities specialising in science and technology in nearly every region of the country. On top of that, a plethora of specialised universities were set up, including those for medicine, maritime, and aviation. His daughter, like her father, Bangabandhu, has come to the correct conclusion: a country can never achieve developed status unless it invests in its higher education system.
Our esteemed prime minister, Bangabandhu's daughter, Sheikh Hasina, unveiled Vision 2041 to transform Bangladesh into a developed nation. In 2041, our gross domestic product (GDP) should reach $1.6 trillion, and the per capita income should reach $15,000 USD, so that we can realise this vision. As of June 2023, the GDP was 460 billion USD, and the per capita income was 27,93 USD, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. Compared to India, our per capita income is now higher. There was a per capita income of barely $600 when the present administration took office in 2008.
It is indisputable that the country's educational system, and its universities in particular, play a crucial role in carrying out Vision 2041. The three cornerstones of Bangabandhu's educational philosophy—skill development, entrepreneurship creation, and vocational-technical education—need to be properly integrated into our country's higher education system through innovative research and teaching methods. Collaboration between academic institutions and businesses can accomplish this.
As a consequence of the equitable sharing of research findings between universities and businesses, this collaboration will foster innovation and creativity. The commercialization of research will propel the nation's universities to the forefront of innovation and creativity, positioning them to drive economic growth. Because of its role in producing entrepreneurial spirit and highly trained workers, a university can be considered the economic engine of a region. Of which, the United States' Silicon Valley is the finest example. Two of Silicon Valley's most prestigious universities, Berkeley and Stanford, are perpetual incubators of new talent and business owners.
To commemorate the 104th anniversary of the Father of the Nation's birth, we can create an innovative learning ecosystem in our nation's universities. This will allow us to put into practice the three tenets of his educational philosophy. For the simple reason that by bringing science and technology into play, this novel strategy will guarantee the right kind of knowledge, abilities, and innovation. At long last, this will be the engine that propels the creation of a smart Bangladesh.
The writer is Visiting Scholar and Fulbright Professor at the University of Texas at Dallas
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