Enhancing Pre-Primary Education in Bangladesh: A Critical Examination of the School Readiness Curriculum and Insights from the Curricula of Neighboring Countries

This study examined the school readiness and pre-primary education curriculum developed in 2011 as part of the Bangladesh Government's collaboration with UNICEF. This initiative aimed to improve the quality of pre-primary education and establish a strong foundation for primary and subsequent education. This curriculum is still in use in every government pre-primary class in Bangladesh. As of now, no new curriculum or policy for pre-primary and early childhood education has been published. This article offers an analysis of the curriculum for a school readiness program designed for five-year-old children. A comprehensive curriculum analysis of the government-run school readiness program in Bangladesh would inform its implementation, substantiate its significance, and provide feedback on effective practices, areas for improvement, and aspects requiring emphasis. Furthermore, it will provide an understanding of the country's contextualised strategy to meet pre-primary education goals. The curriculum analysis used a critical approach to evaluate school readiness program goals and objectives. The school readiness curriculum has been compared with preschool curricula in India and Nepal, as these neighboring countries share similar Early Childhood Education goals. Lessons from their curricula are being used to develop a high-quality early childhood education sector in Bangladesh.