The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has launched a technology-driven project to improve mathematics and science education for secondary school students, particularly those in remote and underprivileged areas.

The initiative, titled the “Digital Mathematics and Science Education Project”, will be implemented with funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) following approval from DSHE.

According to the project concept paper, the initiative aims to reduce students’ fear of mathematics and science, narrow the rural-urban learning gap widened by the COVID-19 pandemic, promote application-based and problem-solving learning instead of rote memorisation, and strengthen teachers’ subject-specific teaching skills.

Speaking to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), DSHE Director General Professor Khan Moinuddin Al Mahmud Sohel said students in remote and under-resourced areas often fall behind in mathematics and science because of a shortage of qualified teachers, appropriate learning materials and opportunities for self-learning.

“The learning gap has widened further due to the COVID pandemic,” he said.

He said the project would use technology to improve learning outcomes and create a scalable model that could eventually be expanded nationwide.

“No matter how advanced technology becomes, classroom transformation is impossible without skilled teachers. The digital teaching guides used in this project will boost teachers’ instructional capacity and creativity,” he added.

The project, officially titled “Digital Math and Science Education Project for Teachers and Students in Under-resourced Remote Areas in Bangladesh”, is being implemented under Jica’s Grassroots Technical Co-operation framework.

Japanese non-profit organisation e-Education and the Bureau of Research, Testing and Consultation (BRTC) of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) will jointly manage the project, while Backbone Limited will provide operational support in the field.

According to DSHE, the project received formal no-objection approval on 10 December 2024. All digital learning materials will be developed in coordination with the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) and DSHE to ensure full alignment with the national curriculum.

The three-year project will run from 2025 to 2028 and will use modern ICT tools alongside a prototype Learning Management System (LMS) to improve mathematics and science education in underserved schools.

Pre-piloting began on 24 and 25 July at Bajapti Ramani Mohan High School and Gandamara High School in Haimchar upazila of Chandpur. Based on feedback from teachers, students and school authorities, the project is expected to expand to all upazilas in Chandpur before being rolled out gradually across all 64 districts.

According to DSHE, around 160 students from each participating school, including 80 students each from Classes IX and X, will take part in the pilot phase.

Professor Sohel said the pilot is being closely monitored to ensure digital content remains accessible despite differences in electricity supply, internet connectivity and device availability.

“Subject to the success of the Chandpur pilot, we plan to expand this digital learning model for math and science to all 64 districts,” he said.

The project centres on a three-tier digital learning system built around a Learning Management System that connects teachers, students and parents. Students will be able to access learning materials, class notes and practice modules online, while parents will be able to monitor attendance and academic progress through their mobile phones.

Project officials said the system is intended to complement, rather than replace, classroom teachers by providing digital teaching resources aligned with the national curriculum. Teachers will use multimedia content alongside interactive classroom discussions and activities to make complex mathematical and scientific concepts easier to understand.

DSHE Director (Planning and Development) Mir Jahida Nazneen said Jica, Buet and e-Education are jointly implementing the project, while DSHE is providing institutional guidance and policy support.

She added that Sajida Foundation, which has been working on digital mathematics and science education through Khan Academy Bangladesh, has also been encouraged to coordinate its activities with the project to avoid duplication and strengthen nationwide implementation.

According to DSHE, e-Education and Buet are already working closely with the two pilot schools in Chandpur to assess classroom conditions, identify local needs and evaluate teachers’ readiness to integrate digital learning into mathematics and science instruction.