22 lakh students take part in Primary Gold Cup

More than 2.2 million students participated in this year's Primary Gold Cup Football Tournament, with the government aiming to increase participation to at least five million in future editions, Prime Minister's Adviser on Education and Primary and Mass Education Mahdi Amin said on Thursday.

Speaking at a press conference at the Secretariat ahead of the tournament's final, he said the competition has become one of the country's largest grassroots sporting events involving primary school students from across Bangladesh.

The final match will be held at the National Army Stadium on June 20, with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman expected to attend as the chief guest.

Mahdi Amin said the government is placing greater emphasis on sports, culture and other co-curricular activities alongside academic education to help students develop leadership, discipline and teamwork skills.

He also announced that Sports and Culture will be introduced as new subjects from Class IV beginning next academic year. In addition, "Learning with Happiness" and Technical and Vocational Education will be gradually introduced from Class VI.

The adviser said the government's goal is to build a more practical and inclusive education system that equips students with skills, values and real-world experience while reducing educational disparities between urban and rural areas.

TZ