EU provides €26m for Bangladesh education

Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Bangladesh, Michael Miller, has said education is one of the most powerful investments they can make for a "more just, inclusive and prosperous" society.

"The EU is proud to partner with Bangladesh’s education reform agenda and our shared goal of building a future-ready, skilled generation," he said on Monday as the European Union provided EUR 26 million to strengthen Bangladesh's education system.

The EU has disbursed EUR 26 million to the government of Bangladesh to support ongoing reforms in primary education and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) sectors, according to a UNB report.

This grant financing recognises significant progress made by the Government in implementing key reforms aligned with the National Education Policy, the National Skills Development Policy and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The EU is Bangladesh’s long-term partner for the education sector, a priority issue for the country’s inclusive economic development.

"This disbursement is recognition of real progress and a reaffirmation of our partnership to ensure that girls and boys, persons with disabilities, and youths from marginalised communities are empowered through quality education and vocational skills for decent work and active citizenship," said Ambassador Miller.

Looking ahead, the European Union encouraged Bangladesh to further align its education and skills development reforms with the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.

In the TVET sector, the European Union supported Bangladesh in driving forward key structural reforms.

A Bangladesh National Qualifications Framework (BNQF) policy was developed and is awaiting approval, while a Quality Assurance Manual was formally adopted to standardise institutional practices.

The government also published its first Annual Sector Performance Report (ASPR) for TVET, marking a step forward in transparency and accountability.

The recruitment of over 1,470 new TVET instructors also helped address teacher shortages and improve the quality of vocational education across the country.