Bangladesh
Online Education PM Hasina calls on UNESCO to declare online education a global resource
Dhaka, November 12: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called upon UNESCO to declare remote learning and online education as global human resources, stating that online education has evolved into a "new normal" during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Prime Minister said, "During the pandemic, lack of resources and technology has jeopardized our decades-long achievements in school and youth and adult learning. I urge the august body (UNESCO) to declare remote learning and online education a global resource."
The Prime Minister made the call while addressing the 41st General Assembly of UNESCO in Paris on Thursday.
She called on UNESCO to work with the government, the private sector and other stakeholders to prioritize partnerships and resource mobilization.
Noting that the pandemic has eroded hard-won achievements, she said, "It is a signalled a big flaw in our education system."
According to UNESCO, about half of the world's students are affected by partial or complete school closures.
"Online education developed as a 'new normal' during the pandemic,' she said, adding, "Yet, it also revealed a new division."
Sheikh Hasina, however, said that digitization, enhanced services and free flow of information have increased, but there is concern over the misuse of digital tools and platforms to spread harmful content and hate speech. Noting that global organizations like UNESCO should work to solve this problem, she said that it has a significant negative impact on the peace and stability of the society.
On the issue of climate change, the Prime Minister said it is a deadly reality not only for Bangladesh but for many more countries of the world.
