State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj has said that the next generation should be raised through safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology, not fear. He said that the advancement of technology will not stop. Therefore, children and adolescents should not be kept away from technology, but rather prepared for the future by teaching them the correct use.
He made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the Digital Gender Norms: National Learning and Experience Exchange event organized by BBC Media Action at Hotel Lakeshore in Gulshan, Dhaka on Tuesday.
The State Minister said that during the July 2024 uprising, attempts were made to silence the voice of the people by shutting down the internet, but it was not successful. Rather, that experience has proven that digital media is an integral part of society, state, and citizen life today. Therefore, it is most important now not to deny technology, but to build the capacity to use it properly.
The State Minister also said that there is a clear mismatch between the development of technology and the prevailing social and cultural values of society. To bridge this gap, education, family, society and the state must work together. It is especially important to train children and adolescents on safe digital behavior, fact-checking and online ethics.
Bobby Hajjaj said, “Fake photos, fake videos, character assassination and digital harassment on social media have reached alarming levels. Especially women, girls and female politicians are the biggest victims. Therefore, it is the need of the hour to ensure accountability on digital platforms and implement effective laws and policies to protect children and women.”
He said the government’s goal is not to create unreasonable barriers to the use of technology; rather, it is to establish a balance between freedom and security. He also expressed the view that in the current social reality, effective control is needed in some areas for the safety of children and women.
The State Minister also said that the government is including value-based education, digital safety, life skills, gender sensitivity and civic values as important parts of the new curriculum in primary education. To this end, work is being done in coordination with local and foreign experts, UNESCO and various development partner organizations.
He said that in the new education system, there are plans to gradually introduce interactive digital systems in classrooms, provide tabs for teachers, and provide education-friendly digital devices for students in the future to bring teachers and students under the umbrella of technology-based education.
Bobby Hajjaj said, “Ensuring the safe development of children is not only the responsibility of parents; it is the responsibility of the entire society. For this, community involvement is being increased in primary schools. Guardian committees have already been formed to oversee school meal activities, and initiatives have been taken to involve guardians and local people in other aspects of the education system as well.”
He told development partners, international and national NGOs that the government is ready to accept and expand initiatives that will prove effective for students. Our ministry is now working on an open-door policy. You come up with fruitful initiatives, we will evaluate them and try to implement them on a larger scale.
Regarding women’s empowerment, the State Minister said, “To establish women’s leadership, it is not just a slogan, but it is necessary to ensure equal opportunities, equal rights, a safe environment and a system of building self-confidence from childhood. The foundation for this change must be laid from educational institutions.”
Representatives from BBC Media Action, teachers, students, parents from various educational institutions in Khulna and Savar regions, representatives from various NGOs including UN Women, Plan International, Jago Foundation, and media personnel were present at the event.
