The government is planning to introduce a new curriculum at the secondary level starting in 2027, with grade six as the entry point. The initiative will gradually expand to higher grades and is being spearheaded by the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB).
Driven by demands from students, teachers, and guardians following the mass protests of July 2024, the interim government has shifted its focus to a curriculum that prioritizes experiential learning over rote memorization. NCTB is currently reviewing education models from over 15 countries to guide this transformation.
Education Adviser Dr Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar said the new framework will be inclusive, technology-oriented, and developed through national consensus. He emphasized the importance of reflecting both international standards and local values, such as patriotism, the 1952 Language Movement, and the 1971 Liberation War.
The preliminary framework of the curriculum is expected to be finalized by December 2025. It will integrate key aspects of the 2012 and 2022 models, though it has not been decided which will serve as the foundation. The current grade nine students, who are scheduled to sit for SSC exams in 2027, will follow the 2012 curriculum.
The earlier 2021 curriculum introduced by the previous Awami League government was discarded due to rapid implementation and lack of preparedness. At the primary level, the 2022 curriculum remains in place.
Experts and parents have raised concerns about assessment methods, teacher training, and classroom infrastructure. Educationists stress that for the curriculum reform to succeed, investments in schools and educators are essential.
A committee will be formed to evaluate the existing curricula in light of global best practices before the final version is adopted.
