They said the goal cannot be reached if the government does not bring massive change in its policy on primary education, they said quoting a Unesco Monitoring Report on the world literacy status based on the MDG published recently.

The national consultation seminar on 'MDG and Education For All' was organised by the Campaign for Popular Education (Campe) at the LGED auditorium in the city.

According to Unesco, the literacy rate of Bangladesh is 42 percent, whereas the Directorate of Primary and Mass Education has fixed the rate at 62.

"Even if we do not go for debate regarding the rate, the quality of primary education is very far from the MDG," said Dr Manzoor Ahmed, director of a Brac education project.

Only 35 percent students enrolled in the primary schools can read and write and know the basic mathematics on completion of their study at Class V, he added.

Mohammad Mohsin, advisor of Plan Bangladesh's Learning told

The Daily Star that lack of trained and skilled teachers is the main reason for this drawback.

Campe Director Rasheda K Chowdhury said corruption and bribery in recruiting the primary school teachers have seriously hampered the quality of primary education.

Basu Dev Neupane, member of Millennium Campaign Team, Asia has however expressed his satisfaction at the increase of budgetary allocations by the government for primary education.

"But mere allocation will not work unless the government utilise it properly," he added.

The speakers unanimously agreed that there should be an integrated approach incorporating representatives of the civil society, non-government and government organisations to reach the millennium goals.

Chaired by Campe Advisor ANM Yousuf, the seminar was also addressed by Campe Deputy Director Tasneem Atahar and Prof Shafi Ahmed of Jahangirnagar University.