Abstract
Building an inequality-free, humane, and inclusive society in Bangladesh is one of the most important national goals of the present time. A nation stands upon its education system, and the education system stands upon primary education. However, the existing multi-stream primary education system such as government, private, English medium, madrasah, and other alternative education systems is considered a major challenge in achieving this goal. Due to these different streams operating based on different curricula, teaching methods, and values, significant variations are created among students in terms of mindset, perspectives, and social consciousness. As a result, the development of a unified national identity is hindered, and in the long term, social inequality and division may deepen further. This paper analyzes the necessity of a unified primary education curriculum, which can create a common educational foundation for all students. An integrated curriculum can ensure equal opportunities for students while also helping to develop shared values, tolerance, and a sense of responsibility. Through this, students will be inspired by a common national consciousness, which will play an important role in increasing social cohesion and unity. The study further shows that a unified curriculum can contribute to improving the quality of education, as it helps integrate standardized educational materials, teacher training, and assessment systems. Additionally, it can play an effective role in reducing the educational gap between urban and rural areas and ensuring equal quality education for all students. However, there are also some challenges in implementing this curriculum. These include preserving the uniqueness of different education streams, coordinating among stakeholders, infrastructural limitations, and the lack of alignment between policymaking and implementation. To address these challenges, it is necessary to adopt a step-by-step plan, provide appropriate teacher training, and ensure the opinions and participation of all relevant parties. Finally, the paper concludes that an integrated and unified primary education curriculum can be considered an effective and timely strategy for building an inequality-free, inclusive, and cohesive society in Bangladesh.
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