Milestone event also highlights successful completion of JSP3 project

Staff Reporter, Dhaka : Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Directorate of Primary Education have jointly
organized a seminar titled ‘Review of 20 Years of JICA Cooperation for Primary Education in Bangladesh & Completion of JSP3 Project’ today on May 14, 2025 at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, Dhaka. The event reflected on two decades of JICA’s crucial role in advancing the primary education sector in Bangladesh and marked the successful completion of the “JICA Support Program 3 for Strengthening Mathematics and Science in Primary Education Project” (JSP3).
The seminar was graced by key figures, including Professor Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Podder, Adviser, Ministry of Primary and Mass Education (MOPME) as the Chief Guest, and H.E. SAIDA Shinichi,
Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh, along with Abu Taher Md. Masud Rana, Secretary of MOPME, as Special Guests.
Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Podder expressed sincere gratitude to the Japanese government and JICA’s substantial grant aid of 5 billion Japanese Yen for the Primary Education Development Programme
(PEDP) 3 and 4. He highlighted the transformative impact of JICA’s technical cooperation projects in shifting Bangladesh’s primary education from a rote-learning approach to an inquiry-based, child-centered system that fosters thinking, imagination, and curiosity.
Abu Taher Md. Masud Rana, Secretary of MOPME, acknowledged the significant financial challenges Bangladesh faces due to global economic disruptions and appealed to the Government of Japan to
continue its generous grant support for the upcoming PEDP5.
Mr. Ichiguchi Tomohide, Chief Representative of JICA Bangladesh, reflected on the past 20 years, emphasizing JICA’s focus on crucial areas such as teacher education development, teaching package
development, the introduction of lesson study, and curriculum and textbook revision in mathematics and science. He also stressed the importance of developing a long-term “national vision” for Bangladesh’s education sector to guide strategic planning for the next two to three decades.
The seminar was chaired by Abu Noor Md Shamsuzzaman, Director General of the DPE, who expressed his deep appreciation to JICA for their extensive support in improving the quality of continuous learning for both students and teachers. He expressed optimism that with continued support from JICA, the government would be able to accelerate positive changes in the primary education teaching-learning environment.
The event saw participation from representatives of various key organizations, including MoPME, DPE, National Academy for Primary Education (NAPE), National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), development partners, and other stakeholders in the education sector. The seminar served as a platform to celebrate past achievements, share valuable lessons learned, and discuss future collaborations to further enhance primary education in Bangladesh.