Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday instructed government officials to resolve key logistical hurdles and ensure e-learning is introduced in at least 100 schools across the Chattogram Hill Tracts before the year ends.
The directive came during a high-level meeting at the state guest house, Jamuna, attended by senior advisers and education officials.
Among those present were Hill Tracts Affairs Adviser Supradeep Chakma, Liberation War and Disaster Affairs Adviser Faruki Azam, Food and Land Adviser Ali Imam Majumder, Chief Secretary Siraj Uddin Mia, and representatives from the primary and secondary education departments.
Energy and Connectivity Challenges Cited
Officials briefed the meeting on three major obstacles preventing the launch of online education in the region:
- Lack of reliable electricity in remote areas
- Poor internet connectivity
- Shortage of trained teachers capable of managing virtual classrooms
Yunus advised the use of solar panels to address power shortages and recommended leveraging mobile networks and satellite-based internet services like Starlink to overcome connectivity issues.
“There’s no time to waste,” one education official quoted the adviser as saying. “These problems must be solved quickly so students in remote areas are not left behind.”
A Push for Digital Inclusion
The initiative is expected to support schools in difficult terrain where traditional classroom access is limited. Though still in the planning phase, the urgency of Yunus’s instruction signals a shift toward integrating remote learning in national education policy, especially for underserved communities.
The timeline for implementation remains uncertain, though the year-end deadline is adding pressure on officials.
Behind the scenes, wheels are already in motion. One administrator confided—off the record, of course—that they’re picking out schools and exploring how to use phones for teaching.
They know it’s a long shot, admitting, “It’s a tight schedule, but we’ll try.” But here’s what really matters: success or failure, this is a deliberate push to stop ignoring Chattogram’s most remote students. It’s about finally giving them a seat at the table.
