Emphasising children’s holistic development, BRAC Academy seeks to meet the growing demand for affordable, high-quality education for middle-income families as an alternative to the country’s expensive private schools.

On Tuesday, 13 January, BRAC Academy in Jashore was formally inaugurated by Asif Saleh, executive director of BRAC, at Laldighi Para in Jashore town. At the event, he presented new books to the children.

Earlier, the academy was inaugurated on 11 January on Islamia Road in Noakhali Sadar, on 10 January in the Chandgaon residential area of Chattogram city, and on 8 January in Dakshinkhan, Dhaka. BRAC Academy is also set to begin operations in Sylhet later this month.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Jashore, Asif Saleh said BRAC Academy seeks to lay the foundation for nurturing skilled, responsible citizens with strong human values. “To keep up with the times, an education system is needed that enables children not only to acquire the skills and competencies required to thrive in society, but also to grow into individuals grounded in ethical values,” he said. He added that, following extensive research, BRAC Academy’s curriculum has been carefully designed to foster innovative thinking, creativity and leadership qualities among children, while placing equal emphasis on joyful learning that allows them to learn through play.

In his closing remarks, Safi Rahman Khan, director of BRAC’s Education, Skills Development and Migration Programmes, said that, despite the growing emphasis on homework, examinations, textbooks and guides in the country’s education system, children’s skills and capacity for independent thinking have not developed significantly. BRAC Academy seeks to nurture children in a way that enables them to think freely and apply their innovative potential.

Guests at the event included Niveen Reza, head of social enterprise at BRAC’s Education Programme; Md Abu Saeed, divisional manager (Khulna) of the Regulatory Affairs Unit; and Dr Md Abu Bakar Siddique, who spoke on behalf of the parents. Cultural performances by students and a campus tour were also part of the programme.

The first branch of BRAC Academy was launched in Cumilla in 2019. It is currently operating in Cumilla, Bogura, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Chattogram, Noakhali and Jashore, with plans to expand to 30 districts by 2030.

BRAC Academy offers primary education from Play Group to Grade Five for children aged four years and above. It follows a bilingual Bangla–English system, with a strong focus on Bangla while gradually introducing English through age-appropriate activities, enabling students to develop effective communication skills in both languages.

Placing special emphasis on values-based education, BRAC Academy fosters curiosity for learning among students while nurturing respect and a sense of responsibility to help them grow into successful individuals. Alongside the national curriculum, the academy supports students in developing essential life skills.

BRAC Academy aims to prepare the younger generation for future leadership roles. It is working towards building a child-centred and affordable education network across all regions of Bangladesh. The academy’s learning materials are developed in line with global standards while being contextualised to the realities of Bangladesh.